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HORTICULTURISTS 
HANDBOOK 

FARMERS 

HORTICULTURlSTSvfS/^^ - 

GARDENERS 



PROF. W. H. BROWN'S 

INSECTICIDE RECIPES 



! 
AND HOW TO CARE FOR THEM. 



E 



The Best Kno^ivn Recipes Kor the Oe- 
strtj-ction of Insect Pests. 



A Brief History of the Insects That De- 
stroy Vegetation, and Ho^^r 
to Kill Them. 



BY 
W. H. BROWN 



m 



PLAIN FACTS 

For Farmers, Horticulturists and Gardeners 



PROK. W. FI. BROW/^N'S 

Inskctticidk Rkcipes 

(IW ^SOLvIO KORJVI) 



A SURE PRESERVATOR OF 



OreliaFds, jjardeRS, parks and flmwi Uroonds 

AND HOW TO CARE FOR THEM. 



Inci.ijdincj Thirty-Five of the Best Knoavn Recipes for the 
l^y-^ Destruction of Insect Pests. 
(^ 

A. Brief History of thie Insects Tliat 
Destroy Vegetation. 



Testimonials to the IVIeciicine That 
Kills Ttiem. 



W^H. BROWN 



1894 
Acme Publishing Company 

Seattlb 



A' 



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%^ 



Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year 1894, 

BY W. H. BROWN 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D, G. 




W, H. BROWN 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The history of horticulture from the first has been fraught 
with difi&culties. To care for and dress the garden was one of 
the commands given to our first parents, and the experience of 
all engaged in this, one of the noblest occupations entrusted to 
man, has been one of unceasing care and toil. Like the disease 
of sin in the human soul, the destructive diseases and pests of 
the horticulturists are omnipresent, and are seeking to destroy 
the noblest and best to be found, and as the battle has ever been 
on in the contest in the human soul between the evil and the 
good, so has the battle ever been on between the horticulturist 
and the pestiferous insects and deadly diseases that are seeking 
to destroy the product of his labor. 

In late years, so great has become the fruit growing industry, 
of our country, and so multiplied have become the enemies that 
are battling its onward march, that sumptuary laws have been 
enacted by many states and counties, and boards of commis- 
sioners have been created for the special purpose of enforcing 
them, and large sums of money have been expended in experi- 
menting for the purpose of discovering the best remedies to be 
used in combatting the destructive pests of orchard and field 
and farm. 

Men have made it their life work studying out the most effect- 
ive means of preventing and- destroying the pests that are de- 
vastating the years of honest earnest labor on our orchards and 
farms. The author of this book has devoted the best years 
of his life to these investigations. He has studied the habits and 
life of the pests and familiarized himself with their method of 
attack on tree life; he has also examined into the requirements 
of vegetation to resist these attacks. 



6 



These investigations have resulted in one of the most import- 
ant discoveries of the times — a compound known as W. H. 
Brown's Insect Exterminator — which has been patented and is 
being successfully and generally introduced all over the country. 
His work has not been circumscribed hj limited experimental 
ground, but it has been in the broader field of the nursery and 
the orchard, in nearly every State in the Union. He has com- 
batted the insects on their native heath, at their strongest points^ 
from the frigid north to the citrus belts of the semi-tropics, and 
in every section and on every insect his preparation has proved 
effective in the greatest degree. While this solution has been 
formulated to destroy any insect that infests trees or fruits, it 
does it without the least injury to tree or fruit. 

The author takes great pleasure in calling the attention of tlie 
reader to the numerous testimonials ia this publication. They 
are only samples of man}^ more of the same class that he is 
receiving daily. 

.. _ A. N. HAMILTON. 




SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 



After the introduction so kindly given by my friend Col. 
Hamilton, I can simply inform my readers that I was born of 
Scotch-Irish parents, in the township of Chatham, Lower Canada, 
on the 12th of March, 1842. Being born eight days after th^ 
inauguration of Gen. W. H. Harrison, I was named after this 
statesman, of whom I have always been proud, and doubly so 
since I had the honor of casting a vote for his illustrious grand- 
son, Gen. Harrison, Jr. 

At the age of four years my parents moved to Western Can- 
ada, and at six years old I was left fatherless, my father receiv- 
ing his death from a falling log, while helping a neighbor erect 
a log house. My mother being left with five small children was 
forced to find homes for them, and owing to the fact that most 
of my relatives lived in the far distant East, the mode of travel 
made it impossible to reach them. Three children were placed 
with relatives, and two with strangers, my lot being cast with 
the latter. My adopted uncle being an educated horticulturist, 
having but one child, a woman grown, I was soon placed in a 
nursery row with pruning knife in hand. So great was my love 
for this profession that I soon had many fence corners planted 
with rejected trees. Here I stayed for six years. There being 
no children to play with, I can simply recall my childhood days 
with playmates such as trees, shrubs, plants and flowers, and in- 
sects of every kind and description that I could find, and in fact 
frogs, toads and other reptiles did not escape my notice. All 
seemed to me to be natural beauties, and I can now recall those 
days as being the happiest ones of my life. During these six 
years of my life I had not attended school a day ; I had not even 



8 

been taught the alphabet. My mother being college educated 
and who had seen better days, taught school four years, after 
which she married quite a wealthy English horticulturist. I 
studied my profession under this gentleman for at least three 
years, attending school winters, after which I worked for my 
board most of the time. When in my twentieth year I com- 
menced the study of theology. In the campaign for Lincoln and 
Douglas for President, I took an active part, and being in Illi- 
nois I carried the wide awake flag for Old Abe. I did some 
stumping for the successful President. I stated to an audience 
of at least 5,000 citizens at Jenera, 111., that I had carried both 
flag and torch for Old Abe, and if elected by the voice of the 
American people and it became necessary, I would carry the 
bayonet to sustain him. I made my word good by enlisting in 
Company G, 52nd Illinois Infantry, on the 22nd day of Septem- 
ber, 1861. Refusing a captain's commission in^the 58th Illinois, 
I accepted the rank of a private, so as to get with boys with 
whom I had an acquaintance. I was standing picket with not 
& dry stitch on me when I was taken sick with the measles, with 
which I came very near dying. I returned to my regiment just 
in time for the battle of Shiloh, where I was wounded on the 
afternoon of the first day's fight and was sent to Evansville, 
Ind.; taken out of the hospital by Mrs. Doctor Castleberry and 
Mayor Baker's daughter, who was Mrs. Castleberry's niece. 
Being placed in a palace sick-room there I lay for two and a half 
months, at times given up to die by my physician, Dr.Milhasen, 
who kindly tendered his services gratuitously. These two 
ladies and Grandmother Castleberry, assisted by the young 
ladies of the female college, were the angels of mercy who 
administered to my wants in a strange land. The doctor said 
that the reason that I didn't die, was that I would have kicked 
twice after I was dead. But had it not been for those ladies I 
would have made the two last kicks. Therefore the readers of 
this sketch can always count on me in favor of woman suffrage. 
I returned to my regiment and was on the march to luka. My 
regiment took no part in the fight. I was in the second battle 
of Corinth and was on special service for eighteen months. 



9 

I visited Old Abe in the White House, and was dismissed 

from the service by surgeon's Certificate of Disability, June, 

'64. I have been pensioned by the Republican administration 

at $8 per month, raised to $14 per month under Cleveland, and 

I still live. I can assure the readers of this short narrative of 

my war experience, I can only express my true feelings with a 

tear when I pen the language of the poet : 

"Utider the roses the blue, 
Under the lilies the gray, 
Under the sod and the dew, 
Waiting the judgment day." 

I married my first wife. Miss Alvira Walker, soon after my 
discharge. She died three months after marriage, of typhoid 
fever. Returned home to Canada and attended school one and 
a half years. My health failed and I gave up a college course. 
After four years I married my present wife, whose maiden name 
was Miss Amelia W, Clark, and who I have always found to be 
true to her marriage vows, cheerful in prosperity, and always 
speaking comfort in time of adversity. To us one child has been 
born, Helen E, Brown, who is and always has been the cheer of 
the house. She is past 18 years old, has played the organ in 
church since she was 12 years old and is ever found at her post 
as a Christian worker. I can say for her what few fathers can 
say of an only child, she has the first impudent word to give me 
at this writing. 

I have given the greater part of my past life to the study of 
nature, this being my chief enjoyment, and I have a longing de. 
sire to live long enough to see my efforts in the destruction of 
noxious insects become a boon to humanity. 



ENTOMOLOGY— INSECT LIFE. 



I cannot conceive of any subject more prolific of astonishing 
revealments to an inquiring mind than the study of entomology. 
Environed as we are by finitism, we cannot conceive of alpha 
or omega. To us as creatures creative of terra period there 
seems to be no beginning of life or ending of re-creation. Yester- 
day an inert body, to-day it becomes a loathsome worm, bringing 
ruin and devastation to the vegetable kingdom and laying waste 
the prospective millions of man. To-morrow this wonderful de- 
stroyer becomes a beautiful butterfly, with velvety wings more 
beautiful than can be painted by the hand of man or described 
by the pen of the scribe. As they are carried by their beautiful 
wings, like the humming-bird sipping the honey from the beau- 
tiful flowers that ornament nature's Eden, and so we exclaim, ad 
infinitum. Yet for all this fitful kaleidoscopic change we can 
and do, in the study of this lower life, grasp with a knowledge 
through entomological research, an escape from a surcease of 
what otherwise would have been a mystery for all time. After 
a careful study of this subject for more than 40 years, I have as 
yet failed, in my opinion, to have learned more than a part of the 
alphabet, when I take into consideration the fact that in order 
to be life there must be a living germ, so says reason and so says 
scientific research. Nevertheless, let me ask why is it? Suppose 
a man in the prime of life to be cut down by a bullet or buried 
alive in a metallic casket six feet under ground, when decompo- 
sition takes place his flesh becomes a crawling mass of worms, 
making and confirming the truthfulness of Holy Writ where it 
says that " dust we are and unto dust we shall return", and that 
''we are worms of the soil and we shall be devoured by worms." 
Taking into consideration the wonderful works of nature, I am 
led to exclaim in the language of the poet : 

"God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform, 
He plants his footstep in the sea and rides upon the storm. 



12 HOKTICTJLTURISTS' HANDBOOK. 

Deep in unfathomable minde, of never fading skill, 

He treasures up His bright desires and works His sovereign will." 

It is enough for mau to know that the great majority of insect 
life is man's great enemy, and that to see an army of insects is to 
see an army of foes, and how to declare a successful warfare 
against this enemy in the United States is a question yet to be 
solved. I make this stasement from the fact that in the last four 
years the State Boards alone have paid out for the extermination 
of the insect foe in the United States hundreds of thousands of 
dollars, and still their onward march seems to be to victory. 

It is not the aim of the writer to enter into a scientific history 
of insect life, as there are any number of such works. My aim is 
to give to my readers something of a practical nature ; something 
to show that when they see a butterfly they almost invariably 
see a foe, as they are the parents of the many worms that do the 
work as destroyers. That when they see a bug, look out for the 
enemy, as they are the insect that produce the grub that destroy 
the tree, shrub and vegetation in many instances. That when 
they see the fly they see the parent of the magot, and so I might 
go on until I wrote a book. Perhaps some of my readers might 
say, you mention the worm, you mention the grub and the maggot. 
I want to know the difference, as they all look alike to me. 
Well, I will not go to Webster's unabridged to learn some words 
that I never learned in school, so as to twist the tongue of the 
farmer who might undertake to read the names, I will simply re- 
fer to a few true insects that are most destructive to man's wel- 
fare. A butterfly, while a worm, is called a caterpillar. This 
caterpillar while in this stage of life has six real legs, and usually 
four false ones, which are simply dots of flesh. By being care- 
ful in examination of an insect, it is an easy matter to come to a 
correct decision as to what kind of an insect you may have to 
contend with. A beetle while in the worm state hasn't the sign 
of a leg, so it is quite easy to distinguish the difference. The 
worm in its larvae state is called a grub ; it is much thicker and 
usually shorter than a worm. Maggots are the skippers or fly- 
blows ; they don't need further explanation. 



PLANTING AN ORCHARD. 



Where to plant and how to plant, and what kind of trees to^ 
plant, are questions often asked of me by men who are going 
into this business. Where to plant, is a question that carries 
more weight with it than many other subjects, from the fact that 
diflferent climates often speak louder than words. For instance r 
you may plant an orchard on a hill-side, sloping to the south- 
west, any place in the Puget Sound country, and you meet with 
success, go far as location is concerned — for this reason, a fruit 
tree requires considerable sunlight and moderately drj^ weather ,. 
which is not always attainable on the Sound, more especially on 
a north slope. Then another trouble you will have to contend 
with, your trees will soon be covered with a green moss (fungus) 
which is very injurious to them. While east of the mountains 
in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, this theory will not hold 
good, from the fact that they have too much dry weather in 
some instances. Another reason why an orchard should not be^ 
planted on a south or southwestern slope, in a dry and colder 
climate is that the orchardist has to contend with cold, change- 
able winters. I don't claim that it is the cold that injures the- 
trees ; I claim that it is the thawing and freezing combined that 
does the damage. For instance, it has been cold, freezing 
weather, the mercury standing at 10 degrees below zero (per- 
haps not so cold) for some little time. A sudden change takes 
place — the weather gets warm, the frost is hurried out of the 
trees by the sun, up goes the sap from the roots and the buds be- 
gin to swell. All nature looks as if spring had returned with 
all its beauties. All at once another change takes place — in 
one night the thermometer registers zero, or perhaps below. 
The sap that began to flow came to an instantaneous standstill, 
more especially on the south side of the tree. The sap remains 
in the stock, limbs and buds of the tree in a dormant condition 



14 horticulturists' handbook. 

for days. Finally there is a gradual thaw. The frozen sap that 
has no business there thaws out ; it has no way of escape, finally 
it becomes impure, sours in the sap-lining, nature's blood ves- 
sels are clogged with impure blood (sap) forcing its way upward, 
still upward, mixing the pure sap with the impure, it finally 
reaches the buds (lungs) ; nature having but little vitality left 
fails to throw off the impurities. The consequence is, the tree 
sooner or later dies in the contest for life, while trees planted on 
a northern or northwestern slope have not been efiected by these 
sudden changes, from the fact that the heat on this particular 
occasion having never reached them. The reader well knows 
that the snow is all gone on the south slope when it has hardly 
commenced melting on the north slope. 

Another question may be asked by the reader : "Suppose I 
have my orchard planted on a south slope, what is to be done in 
this case? Can my trees be saved?" My answer is, they can 
to a very great extent, if attended to in time — that is before the 
tree or trees have received their death warrant. The first thing 
to be done in this case is to trim the new growth back before the 
tree stops growing in the fall so as to harden what is left of the new 
growth. The less water the roots get late in the fall the better. 
Just before winter or freezing weather sets in, mulch well around 
the roots with coarse barn-yard manure, but be careful not to let 
the manure come in contact with the stock of the tree. Take two 
pieces of board about 10 inches wide ; nail them together, giving 
them the appearance of a house roof at one third pitch ; sharpen 
at one end ; drive the sharpened end into the ground about eight 
inches from the base of the tree, letting the top rest against the 
trunk of the tree at or in the branches. This protects the tree 
from the sun and will prevent thawing. This prescription will 
do more to save your orchard than anything you can do under 
the circumstances. 

I am often asked, Which is the best place to plant an orchard, 
on the hill-side or in the valley ? When climate is not brought 
into question, my answer to this question is, so far as the Puget 
Sound country is concerned and other similar countries, owing 
to the fact of their great annual rainfall and the fertility of their 



horticulturists' handbook. 15 

valleys, trees planted in those valleys make a too rapid growth 
are too susceptible to wind and weather and in consequence the 
trees are shortlived, owing to the fact that they overbear ; there- 
fore they come into existence quick and in consequence go out 
in the same way. 

Such countries as Eastern Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah 
and other sections where they depend on irrigation and where 
their winters are severe, I would advise the planting of apple 
orchards as much as possible on the side hills, commencing 
lower down on the side-hill and extending further down into 
the valley, planting prunes, peaches and such kind of fruit in 
the lowest land. One important feature must not be lost sight of, 
no matter where the orchard is planted, and that is natural 
drainage. California is, in many instances, an exception to the 
general rule. Take the Eastern States, such as Indiana, Michi- 
gan, Ohio, Western Canada and all the Southern States. Where 
their fruit is failing it is not so much climatic changes that ails 
them as it is insects. 

How to plant, is the next question that presents itself. 

First prepare your ground so that when it is ready it will look 
as if a newly sowed crop had been planted. Mark off your 
ground, as for corn, 33 feet between hills for apple, cherry and 
pear. For prune, plum, peach and other fruits of a similar 
nature, from 25 to 30 feet will do as well. After the ground has 
been prepared and the marking done, then hole-digging is next 
in order. The larger a hole is dug the better, using judgment. 
But don't dig less than 12 inches deep and 24 in diameter, dig- 
ging the sides perpendicular. If there is any noticeable slope 
let the slope be so as to make the bottom larger than the top. 
This being done, the next thing in order is tree getting. But a 
very important part is what varieties or what kind to get, and 
it is a question that no man can answer, not knowing where the 
trees are to be planted. Trees that will do well in the East, in 
many instances, will not do well in the West. Trees that are a 
success in the South are a failure in the North. So it is. There- 
fore for me to attempt to answer that question, would be absurd 
on my part. There is one sure rule to go by, that is : What 



16 horticulturists' handbook. 

apples or fruit sell so as to bring the most money in the Eastern 
market is what you want. Be sure they are good keepers 
and shippers, and tha»t these kinds do well in your locality- 
Spend some little time investigating this question. The next 
thing to be done after a decision has been reached, is to decide 
how many kinds to get and how many of each kind to get. 

This question can be easily answered, that is if you are intend- 
ing to become a fruit shipper. Select a few of the best kinds, 
get enough of any one kind so that if an order comes for a car 
load, you will have them to ship without running all over among 
your neighbors, picking a few bushels here and a few bushels 
there to fill out your order, as these dealers are all business, and 
they want their orders filled, and that at once. 

Now comes the getting of the ti'ees. Where to get them is a 
very important question. My advice is to see the stock, if it is 
convenient, and if you have a home nursery in reach, go person- 
ally and make your selection. If not, find out how you can 
communicate with the best nursery and to them give your order. 
One great reason that it is better to make your selection in per- 
son, is that in tree shipping time the nurseryman is verj^ busy, 
for the season is short. Sometimes he gets too many irons in the 
fire, and some, through poor apprentices get burnt (I mean the 
roots) and the honest nurseryman is called dishonest. 

The first thing, if it is an apple tree you want, ask to be shown 
his two-year-olds, then satisfy yourself that they are two-year- 
olds as they may be stunted three- or four-year-olds. Look and 
you will usually tell by the swirl or thimble-like appearance 
where the new growth commenced the previous year on the 
stock. Don't get a stunted tree, as you can't make a first class 
cow out of a stunted calf, neither can you make an old man a 
young one. 

The next thing, see them dug. Don't let the roots be muti- 
lated. Look to it that you get all the j^oung fibre roots you can 
with them. Don't expose the roots to the air more than is 
necessary. Have them taken immediately into the packing-shed 
out of the wind and weather. After this has been done, com- 
mence a general inspection of each tree separately ; look at the 



horticulturists' handbook. 17 

buds on the tender growth ; see that no little shiny, black egg is 
deposited in the crevices around the limbs ; if so, these are prob- 
ably eggs of the aphis or green louse. Perhaps you may see 
some little red eggs, if so, you have probably found the deposit 
of the red spider. See that the bark is smooth and clean and 
free from any foreign substance. Take a first class look at the 
stock, see that there are no lumps or roughness that don't be- 
long there. N^ovp^ look the roots over carefully and see if you 
can find lumps like small or large warts ; if so, ask the nursery- 
man what that means. If he says nothing, then see if you can't 
show him some little lice around the knots ; then ask him what 
they are. If he says that he don't know, tell him they have the 
woolly aphis, and that you don't want such stock. If he and 
you have settled this difficulty by a compromise (which would 
have been hard to perfect had it been in my case) next look and 
see if you have a sickly tree in the lot. Cut off a limb and see 
if the pith is the natural color. See if the wood around the pith 
is not discolored. Ask what that means. Then split the tree 
down the centre and see if it is not black all the way down ; if 
so, the tree has the "black-heart." Don't buy black-hearted 
trees from any man, and I am positive that an honest man 
would not want you to. Nevertheless those diseases are being 
scattered broadcast. My main object in giving the purchaser 
the advice that I have in purchasing his bill of trees, is the fact 
that a poor lot of trees would be dear if he got them for nothiug. 
In concluding this subject let me say. Having dwelt at some 
length in the way of cautioning my readers against infested 
nursery stock and in so doing I have attributed all the blame to 
the nurseryman, therefore if I have laid all the blame where it 
belongs I have imposed no injustice. If I have not, then I am 
guilty of unjust dealing between man and man. My aim is and 
always has been to deal fairly, setting forth facts as they are. 
The nurseryman is required to disinfect his nursery stock, which 
he does in complying to the letter of the law, and his stock is 
perfectly clean. He has a large shipment to some large fruit 
growing community ; therefore it becomes necessary to secure a 
distributing point. He secures it on some vacant lot in some 



18 HOETICULTUBISTS' HANDBOOK. 

large city, where it is most convenient for all his customers. The 
trenches are dag, the trees, shrubs and plants healed in. After 
he has had time to breathe he begins to look at his surroundings. 
What does he find? He finds that his fine clean nursery stock, 
of which he was so proud, has been shipped into a pest-house for 
distribution to his customers. A person might just as well take 
up his abode in a house of ill repute and expect to come out vir- 
tuous, as to have to heal in or plant trees in such a place withovit 
injury. But who is to blame for this state of affairs? It is the 
man who exacted of the producer compliance with the law, and 
let corporations pass comparatively unnoticed. Let there be fair 
dealing in this matter. 

After the receipt of the trees, place the boxes under cover, 
open and cut all mutilated roots from the under side with a 
sharp knife, make a slanting, smooth cut so that when placed in 
the ground, the wound will rest on the ground. Aftert his has 
been done, dampen the roots well, place them in a conveyance, 
throw wet blankets over them, then proceed to plant them. Be 
very careful to get every variety by itself. Don't make a mis- 
take in this part of the work. Plant them in straight rows each 
way without fail. I don't suppose the apples would be any more 
crooked, but it is so much more pleasing to the eye of the 
passer-by to see nice, straight rows. I believe that California 
beats the world for straight rows in planting. 

The first thing to do in planting is to fill up the hole with loose 
earth so that when the tree is placed in the hole ready for plant- 
ing it will be about the depth it stood when in the nursery row. 
Straighten all roots, placing them as near as possible as you 
would suppose them to have stood while in the nursery. After 
this has been done, fill in about three inches of fine loam, then 
pour in two pails of water (or perhaps less will do). Take hold 
of stock, churn it up and down just enough to settle the wet 
earth around the roots, then throw in another half pail of water. 
Go on with planting, giving the water in the previous fiole time 
to settle, return, fill up around the tree, tramping gently so as to 
pack the earth evenly around the roots and stock. This process 
of planting will have caused the tree to settle about two inches 



horticulturists' handbook. 19 

deeper than when placed on the loose earth in the hole. In this 
way plant your orchard and your tree planting will be done 
right. 

In case jou. have a dry climate, it is sometimes best to put a 
little coarse mulching around the roots or base of the tree, but 
be sure and don't let the mulching come in contact with the 
stock. If you don't have frequent rains during the first four 
months after planting, water so as to wet the roots every ten or 
twelve days, after which, with good luck, you may count on your 
orchard as being a grand success. 

The next thing to be considered is how to cultivate. 

Here is where orchardists differ very much. Some believe in 
the old practice of sowing grain in it ; others in planting hoed 
crops ; others no crops at all. I believe in the latter, and I find 
my opinion endorsed by the large majority of the great fruit- 
growers in California and elsewhere. But if you plant any crop, 
plant a hoed crop the first three years, after that none at all ; 
then keep your orchard clean and well cultivated ; don't let a 
spear of grass or weed grow and you will be well paid for your 
trouble. 

Don't let any kind of stock run in your orchard. Some ad- 
vise letting hogs run in an orchard, the object being that hogs 
will eat all wormy apples. This may be so, but I hold an or- 
chard in too high esteem to make a hog pasture of it. I would 
advise picking up the wind-falls and feeding to the hogs in a 
pasture made for that purpose. Hens should have free access 
to the orchard, from the fact that they pick up many worms and 
beetles that are much better in a hen's stomach than depositing 
eggs by the hundreds on your apple trees ; therefore the more 
hens and birds you may have in your orchard the better — that 
is, if they don't lay claim to the fruit. 

A. few practicable suggestions as to how and when to prune an 
orchard : 

The best time to prune is just before the sap starts. How to 
prune is greatly governed by climate, but there is one general 
rule which should always be observed in every climate, never 
allow one limb to cross another and grow that way. Always 



20 horticulturists' handbook. 

prune so as to reduce your tree to one general perpendicular 
trunk. Cut back new growths on apples one-third and prunes 
about one-half. This will cause the limbs to grow not so long 
but will increase in diameter. Never let your trees grow so that 
you can't pick the fruit from a step-ladder not over twelve feet 
in length, for two reasons : One is that it is much easier to pick 
the fruit than if allowed to grow higher. Another reason, if 
troubled with insects you can get at them while spraying, with 
much more ease from the umbrella shaped top. Don't trim so 
as to have all stock and no top. Form first branches, as a rule, 
five feet from the ground, somewhat owing to the natural shape 
of the tree. If your orchard is in a hot, dry climate let the 
limbs grow so as to form a pretty dense foliage. If in a wet cli- 
mate, cut out branches so as to let in more sunlight. Don't let 
suckers grow at the base, as they sap the life out of the tree and 
make a harbor for insects. Never cut off a limb that is an inch 
in diameter without putting hot grafting wax on the wound. 
These suggestions, if followed, will keep your orchard in pretty 
good shape. 



FERTILIZERS. 



I have in my travels seen many orchards that have stood per- 
haps a quarter of a century, they having been noted for their fine 
fruit, both as regards abundance and quality. Now they are 
failing and failing fast. The owners of these fine orchards, be- 
ing aware of the fact, lay the cause to old age, while the facts 
are, these orchards are only in the prime of life. One fact I wish 
to be stamped in the minds of our American horticulturists with 
a stamp of an indelible nature, and that is the importance ot the 
use of fertilizers. I find in my travels those who don't seem to 
know what ruin the lack of manure brings to the tree, the shrub 
-or the plant. I sincerely hope that the time will soon come 
when the American orehardist will open his eyes more to the 



horticulturists' handbook, 21 

benefit of fertilizers, as they have ia some parts of Europe, 
where they have the Egyptian mummies shipped in by the train 
load, ground into bone dust, then used as a fertilizer at the roots 
of everything of a horticultural nature. I imagine I can hear 
some lady reader exclaim, '*0h, horror, can that be possible ?" 
From what I can learn it is a fact, and to my mind it onlj'^ es- 
tablishes two facts — one, that bone-dust must be good ; another, 
that God never fails to make good his promises to man. H>^ said 
to man, "Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return." I hope 
that I have not failed to establish the fact on the minds of every 
one who reads this, that bone-meal makes a fine fertilizer. 

There is another thing that I have noticed in my travels, that 
the farmer usually builds his barn on a side-hill, the object be- 
ing to have good drainage. This I don't object to if he has a 
good cistern at the lower side to catch all the liquid as it goes 
down hill, for it w©uld do the roots of the trees more good than 
the stream below, especially if his cattle drink out of the same 
stream. One instance was brought to my notice while in Ne- 
braska, last summer. In the farming community with which I 
had long formed acquaintance, those who kept clean barnyards 
waxed rich, while those who did not became poorer and poorer. 
One very remarkable instance was where there were two neigh- 
borhoods,one strictly American,the other strictly Holland-Dutch. 
I became acquainted with those people, and when asked by an 
American to take a meal with him or stay over night, my horse 
was fed in some kind of a shack, while I partook of my meal in 
a good residence. On the other hand, the same hospitality was 
extended to me by my Holland friends, my horse was conducted 
into a good barn, to pai'take of a sumptuous meal, while I was 
conducted into a dug-out to partake of mine. Now, let me ask, 
what changes have come about in the lapse of a few years? 
The fact is, the Hollanders who lived in dug-outs now have fine 
houses aad barns, and the young Hollanders have taken posses- 
sion of their neighbors' farms and are moving on to prosperity, 
as did their predecessors. Their American friends have moved 
West to grow up with the country, making good in another in- 
stance, the parable of the many and few talents. It is not my 



22 horticulturists' handbook. 

aim to show to my readers what the manural properties of bone 
may be, whether it is nitrogen and phosphoric acid, by which 
the tree or plant may be benefitted. My aim is to fix on the 
mind of the reader that when you are sick and you call in a 
physician, you ask him if he can cure you. If he says, yes, and 
prescribes quinine, you don't ask him what there is in quinine 
that perfects the cure. Nevertheless it may become necessary^ 
in some instances in my case to have to go so far as to explain 
this. You take for instance barn-yard manure. About all the 
good derived from this kind of manure is the ammonia that it 
contains. The farmers quite frequently pile the manure up in 
heaps and let it stand till it heats, then it begins to smoke so 
that a stranger passing by early in the morning would almost 
have sworn that he had just passed an ammonia manufactory 
and that all the tanks had bursted. It would have been much 
better to put the manure under the ground where it belongs be- 
fore it had lost its strength. 

One time in Canada I told an Irishman that his trees needed 
mulching. No sooner said than done. He piled up about half 
a load around the stock of every tree. The consequence was the 
manure heated and he killed a few and hurt them all. The 
next time I met this gentleman, had it not been that he was a 
devoted Christian, the only thing that would have saved me 
from a good sound hammering would have been my legs, as the 
Irish don't do this kind of thing on the halves usually. Dig the 
manure into the ground, plow it under, scatter it broadcast, but 
don't pile it up in heaps around the stock. If you do, dig it 
away forming something similar to a hen's nest around the base. 
There are other manures that I must not let go unnoticed, chip 
manure for instance. Clean up your chip-yards ; scatter this 
around the trees at the base, as chip manure won't heat. Don't 
throw out your soap-suds, as it would make a fine nourishing 
drink at the roots of some ailing tree. 

I will conclude this subject by making a few assertions. I 
will take a Bartlett pear tree. Suppose this tree produces an in- 
ferior quality of fruit of its kind. Let me say, if a chemist will 
tell me what the fruit lacks in its natural flavor and that flavor 



horticulturists' handbook. 23 

comes from the ground, I can reproduce that flavor. If it is 
lime it wants I can feed it lime ; if ammonia, I can feed it am 
monia ; if it is nitrogen or phosphatic acid it needs, this it will 
get by the use of bone-meal or otherwise. I don't care if this 
trouble comes from some atmospheric cause, I can produce the de- 
sired effect. Certain trees need certain food. Suppose you plant 
an orchard where the land is particularly adapted to the growing 
of fruit and fruit trees. Is it not reasonable to suppose that after 
many j^ears of heavy bearing that this orchard has exhausted the 
natural food in nature's storehouse ? I think it is, and that 
food should be again supplied artificially by the horticulturist 
who has received the benefit of his fruitful orchard. 



THE INSECTICIDE. 



There are many reasons why the "Prof. Brown's Insecticide" 
is the best. 

1st. It is a compound, compounded from all the best known 
insecticides known to the world. 

2nd. It is so scientifically compounded that when manufac- 
tured according to the formula, there is no visible separation of 
the many chemicals which go to form a part of this compound. 

3rd. Being composed of the best insecticides, it has the ad- 
vantage over others, from the fact that what will kill one insect 
will not kill another. Kerosene oil emulsion is considered one 
of the very best insecticides for the extermination of sap-sucking 
insects. Admitting this to be a fact, it is hard to mix oil and 
water without separating, the oil rising to the top. There is at 
least four gallons of kerosene oil used to 100 lbs. of the "Brown 
Insecticide", with no separation. 

4th. Tobacco is another insecticide, one of the very best 
known, but it fails to kill all kinds of insects. Tobacco will kill 



24 horticulturists' handbook. 

some species of insects and will not kill another ; this can be 
proven from the fact that the tobacco worm and grass-hopper will 
live and get fat on the tobacco plant. Nevertheless tobacco as 
an insecticide is like whiskey, good in its place. And I have 
found its place by making it a part of my compound. Whale 
oil soap is another one of the very best known insecticides, and 
I believe it to be used as extensively as any. Nevertheless it 
won't kill the codlin moth. Whale oil soap as an exterminator 
stands high in my estimation, from the fact that it is made from 
the carbon of potash and fish oil and this forms the solid in 
"Browns Insect Exterminator." Sulphur mixed with powder 
and lard will cure the seven year itch (para siate), but put this 
on vegetation iu this form and it is too penetrating. When 
put into a soap I consider it one of the best. Therefore if it is 
sulphur you want, you will find it in the ''Brown's Insecticide." 
Carbolic acid is a fine insecticide when properly used. It is a 
part of the "Brown's Insect Exterminator." These with three 
more equally as good, are the insecticides of which the "Prof. 
Brown's Insecticide" is composed of. 

Anyone who knows anything about insecticides, knows that if 
the medicines herein referred to are what goes to make up the 
above named compound, and if so compounded as to cause no 
separation, it must be acknowledged to be the best because it is 
so compounded as to kill all kinds of insects, I have spent 
hundreds of dollars in perfecting this compound so as to make it 
what it is, without question, the best compound of its kind that 
has ever been invented, and when used once will be used again.. 
One more good quality this medicine has, it is not only an insect 
exterminator, but one of the best fertilizers. Any one who 
knows anything about this subject knows that lye is good, soap 
suds are good, also tobacco. My whole study has been to use 
nothing in this compound that would not be beneficial to vege- 
tation as well as an insect destroyer. 



WHAT IS CLilMED FOR IT. 



This Insecticide, if prepared and used according to directions, 
is warranted to kill the San Jose Scale, the Oyster Shell Scale, 
the Woolly Aphis, the Green Aphis, the Plum Aphis, the Hop 
Aphis, the Cherry and Pear Tree Slug, Caterpillars, and in fact 
all insects injurious to trees, shrubs, plants, vines and their 
foliage. 

An orchard infested by any of the above, especiallj^ the San 
Jose Scale, or Woolly Aphis, cannot be cleaned and kept free 
from them by one spraying, but should be treated within a 
month to a second spraying to kill any that ma}^ not have been 
reached the first time, and then should be sprayed twice each 
year as a preventive measure. 

To secure the best results, good, thorough work must be done. 
Large trees should be well cut back and all loose bark scraped 
oflf, being careful to burn all limbs and bark thus removed. The 
earth should be removed from about the base of the tree, expos- 
ing the larger roots of those infested with the Woolly Aphis, and 
a few shovelfuls of lime or strong wood ashes placed about the 
base of the tree ; then thoroughly drench with the liquid as used 
for spraying and replace the earth ; after which place another 
shovelful of lime or ashes about the base of the tree. This will 
prevent the Aphis that infest the roots from working up the 
body of the tree, which they will if nothing is done to prevent 
them. 



SPRAYING. 



The method of reaching the insects with "Brown's Insect Ex- 
terminator/' is by one of the numerous inexpensive machines in- 
vented for the purpose. Small hand force pumps are generally 
used, where there are but few trees and vines, but larger ma- 
chines are required for hopfields and orchards. The operation 
of spraying is quite simple, inexpensive and very effective. The 
use of the "Insect Exterminator" will double or quadruple the 
income from orchards that have been devastated by insect pests. 
Evening is regarded as the best time to apply the Exterminator, 
as it is less liable to evaporate, and longer time is given it to 
take effect upon the pests. 

The season for spraying fruit trees for codlin moth is when 
the blossoms are falling, the calyx end of the young fruit then 
presenting a saucer-like depression for receiving and holding the 
fluid, and as it is at this end of the fruit that the insects begin 
their work, it is the first place they will be compelled to take 
their fatal medicine. 



PROF. BROWN'S FAVORITE PRESCRIPTION. 



I have shown to the best of my ability, in previous articles, 
that insects of a pestiferous nature have waged war on the fruit 
industry of our country, and being aware that many of our most 
eminent divines and physicians, and also some of our ablest 
statesmen, have their favorite prescription, which they often 
prescribe to make their profession a success ; in fact the Savior 
of this world seems to me not exempt from such a prescription. 



HOKTICULTUEISTS' HANDBOOK. 27 

Did he not say to the men who accused the woman of adultery, 
"Those of you who have no sin, cast the first stone"? Did he 
not say to the self-righteous, "Thou hypocrite, cast out the beam 
out of thine own eye so that thou canst see more clearly to cast 
the mote out of thy brother's eye"? Is it not a fact that the 
Savior said, "If the fountain head be corrupt, the whole stream 
is, or will become as poisonous"? 

"While the writer of this article is unlike the Savior of the 
world in many respects, nevertheless I have my favorite pre- 
scription. The capital of the United States is the fountain 
head of this government. There is the place where the laws are 
enacted that go to govern the welfare of this nation. It is long 
since the law-makers of this nation saw the approaching danger 
and calamity the insect foe was about to bring to this country. 
The speedy action on the part of our law-makers in formulating 
and enacting laws to get rid as well as to keep rid of this foe, de- 
serves great credit. Through this means it soon became the 
duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to have a department 
of Entomology connected with his department. Some of the 
most eminent men have set about to devise ways and means to 
assist in this work of extermination. These gentlemen advised 
the enactment of laws that would prohibit infested products 
from foreign countries being shipped into this. This advice was 
favorably considered by Congress and stringent laws were 
passed. Soon this question became so important that it has been 
carried into one state legislature then another till about every 
state in the Union has fallen into line. State boards have been 
appointed whose duty it is to see that the laws are enforced, one 
of which is, "clean up j^our trees, if infested, or we will cut them 
down." Experimental stations have been established in horti- 
cultural colleges in almost every state in the Union, and vast 
sums of money are paid out annually by both state and national 
governments to devise ways and means to get rid of this 
calamity. 

Is it not a fact that the fountain is impure, from the fact that 
many of the cities where experimental stations exist are badly 
infested with insect pests which seem to be increasing every 



28 HOBTICULTUBISTS' HANDBOOK. 

year ? Is it not a fact that while some members of the state 
boards are out lecturing in remote parts of their state and show- 
ing how to clean up orchards, that in the immediate vicinity 
where such officers reside, orchards are crawling alive with 
noxious insects ? In many of ®ur capital cities, the fountain 
head of our governments, from whence these laws were enacted, 
the fruit, shade and ornamental trees are being destroyed al- 
most within the shadow of the capitol building. It is a fact, 
and why is it ? Is it because our wise legislatures have failed 
to pass a law that can be enforced by the strong arm of the law? 
Is it because they failed to make an appropriation sufficient to 
enforce those laws, or is it not because there are men that are 
opposed to the enforcement of the law ? The officers have 
known this to be a fact, and in consequence when they come in 
contact with such men, they simply shut their eyes to the exist- 
ence of the infested orchards and pass them by unnoticed. 
Whole cities are in the same condition. I don't say this is the 
case in all states. California is an exception, as the fruit grow- 
ers of that great fruit-growing commonwealth have long since' 
opened their eyes to the fact that something had to be done and 
they are doing it. 

Now let me ask, is there any infested fruit in Washington 
City, D. C, any red scale on oranges, lemon scale on lemons^ 
San Jose scale on apples or apple trees ? If so, as that city is 
the great fountain-head of this great government, commence 
there' at once and don't stop until the very letter of the law is 
put into effect. Let the fountain-head of this nation be pure 
and then let this purity of purpose as well as action spread its 
angelic wings of purity over every capital city in this beloved 
land of ours. Then let the officers of the law go forth with a de- 
cree : "Clean up your orchards and vineyards or the law will 
clean them up for you." At the same time don't lose sight of 
the importance of cleaning up your own orchards before you 
exact your neighbor to clean up his, as "consistency thou art a 
jewel." Let this decree go forth and be carried out in the 
strictest letter of the law, until every orchard and vineyard will 
be found a spring of purity, casting its waters into the many 



horticulturists' handbook. 29 

tributaries that flow into the many great rivers that go to form 
the many fountains that majestically flow into the one great 
fountain which has become the head of this nation. 

I have given to the readers of this chapter the true formula 
of my prescription, and my only hope is that it may be read by 
the many who have this important subject at heart, and that it 
may have the effect desired by its author. 



TREATMENT OF OLD TREES. 



If the trees are old, cut off all cross and top limbs and surplus 
branches, scrape off* all the rough bark. After this is done, take 
hot grafting wax composed of the following material and apply it 
to all cuts and wounds: One pound of tallow, two pounds of 
rosin and one pound of beeswax, melt and put on the wounds and 
cuts with a paint brush. This work should be done in the fall, 
winter or spring, while the trees are dormant. Dig around the 
trees to a depth of 12 or 18 inches, care being taken to not muti- 
late the roots. Take half a bushel of well rotted manure (hen 
manure being preferable), two shovelsful of air-slaked lime, also 
two of bone meal, then mix the manure, earth and lime 
thoroughly and place the same around the roots ; then saturate 
the ground with the Insect Exterminator. 

After this has been done in the spring before the leaves are out,^ 
dissolve the Exterminator at the rate of one pound to five gallons 
of hot water and stir well until thoroughly mixed, then add 
three gallons of cold, soft water, and apply the same. 



NO BLACK-HEARTED TREES IN MY GRANDFATHER'S 
ORCHARD. 



Black-hearted tree and the cause, is one of the many subjects 
I am often called on to explain, and of course I am expected to 
answer any and all questions pertaining to my profession. 
Nevertheless I am frank to confess that it is one of the numer- 
ous questions that has a tendency to baffle the wisest theorist 
who has given it the deepest thought. My aim in life is and al- 
ways has been to study the questions that I consider worthy of 
my consideration, both from a practical and a theoretical stand- 
point. When I was a boy in Canada, or in fact in New York 
state, a black-hearted tree was a scarcit3^ Now they are to be 
found in almost all of the finest orchards of our nation. Are my 
assertions correct ? Am I right or wrong ? If right, why is it ? 
It can't be the climate that has produced this change. Some 
say it is, I say it is not. I can show you orchards that have 
stood for 70 years and are mostly healthy trees to this day ; and 
I can show you orchards that are only 10 or 15 years old that 
have but few sound trees in them. Some have black hearts and 
some have something else. Now let us sit down and in all can- 
dor diagnose this case. 

After a thorough investigation we find a young man, about 70 
years ago, felling the trees in the state of Ohio, Michigan, or 
perhaps other of the Eastern States, with one object in view, 
and one alone, that being to make a home for himself and the 
one who had consented to share life's pleasures with him. 

Tree by tree slowly but surely succumbs to the woodman's 
axe. Now the place where stood two years ago a part of the 
mammoth forest, stand 10 broad acres of treeless landscape, 
dotted with stumps like stars in the starry heavens. Fastened to 
mother earth, they sit seemingly bidding defiance to the further 
progress of the brawny woodman, he not yet having learned the 



HORTICULTTTRISTS' HANDBOOK. 31 

meaning of the word fail. Stump after stump disappeared as 
their smoke went up, telling the story that even the giant of the 
forest yielded submission to the will of man. 

This being accomplished, soon the bachelor's hall was made 
the happy home of the young bride, who had so kindly con- 
sented to tread life's pathway with him. A sub-division of this 
10 acres was soon made for corn and grain, the balance set aside 
for a permanent garden and orchard. But how to succeed best 
in this new enterprise was as yet a question to be solved. 
Looking over the many treasures stowed away in the- young 
bride's trunk, an old-fashioned pocket was found, containing 
perhaps a peck of apple seeds, plum pits, peach and other pre- 
cious seed, placed there by the hand of a loving father, or per- 
haps dampened by the tears of a fond mother as she carefully 
stowed them away with many other treasures of a similar na- 
ture. Soon the seeds are sown, and what a conglomerated mass, 
as they had been selected from perhaps 50 seedlings of apple, 
plum, peach and cherry mixed and sown in the same nursery 
rows, with no two seeds, perhaps, alike when taken from the 
same apple. Nevertheless these seeds were perfect, as they were 
perfect specimens of nature's offspring (no adulteration). Soon 
spring came and almost with supernatural perfection an infant 
tree sprang into existence from every seed that had been sown, 
hoed, pruned and cultivated. 

Two years soon passed when these young seedlings were re- 
moved to their place of destination. In a short time these trees 
came into general bearing, and what a sight to behold ! The 
trees natural beauties. The apples all sizes from the wild crab 
to the 20 oz. pippin, and all the colors of the rainbow, were no- 
where to be compared with what was to be found in this 
young orchard. Some were sweet, some sour, some good, some 
bad, as far as the fruit was concerned ; but so far as the trees 
were concerned they could not be described bj^ anything but 
perfection itself Therefore the foundation was good. The 
owner seeing that something must be done in the way of grafting 
into the natural stock in order to obtain a superior grade of 
fruit, soon most of the natural branches had been removed, be- 



32 horticulturists' hajstdbook. 

ing replaced with a first class quality of fruit, such as Northern 
Spy, Ehode Island Greening, Golden Russet, Bell Flower and 
many others too numerous to mention. Therefore a wonderful 
change has been wrought. I have seen thirteen varieties of de- 
licious apples growing on one tree, making good the words of 
our Lord when he said, '•! am the true vine, ye are the 
branches." 

But .what a wonderful change has taken place. The wilder- 
ness has disappeared and what once was a dense forest is now a 
great commonwealth. The sowing of the fruit seed in the gar- 
den, in order to grow an orchard, is a thing of the past. Large 
commercial nurseries have taken the place of that custom. 
The grafting into the limbs of trees is almost a thing that once 
was but is no more. The hardy seedling stock has obtained a 
substitute by grafting a tender stock into a hardy root. This 
sjj^stem has proved a success in many instances, but as a rule I 
am of the opinion that more ruin has come to our orchards from 
this one practice than from all others combined. In fact, I have 
investigated this practice so I am convinced that 95 per cent, of 
all black-hearted trees are attributed to this one cause. There- 
fore I would say, although a great lover of science for the good 
of the orchard, give us, in this case, more nature and less science. 




TWIG BLIGHT. 



This is one of the many subjects which seem to baffle the skill 
of the most skillful physicians of trees at the present time, to be 
found in our nation. There being a great diversity of opinion 
as to the true origin of the cause, the question as to the cause is 
of little importance to the orchardist. It may be to scientists, it 
cannot be otherwise. Can it be cured, is the question, and if so, 
how ? The fact it can be cured is no longer a question in my 
mind. Read the following from the Colorado Field and Farm, of 
Sept. 14, 1893 : 

"The science of tree doctoring may in time become a recog- 
nized occupation among horticulturists. Professor Brown, of 
Seattle, Washington, is in the business exclusively, and during a 
visit to Denver last April he applied some remedial measures to 
a Wealthly apple tree in the orchard of David Brothers on 
Wheat Ridge. This tree was nearly dead from three years at- 
tack of blight. To-day it is thrifty and apparentl 3^ recovered 
from its recent illness. Its new growth of twigs measures over 
two feet and the tree is saved, whereas it would surely have been 
dead by this time but for Dr. Brown's treatment." 

But, says the critic, any one can get any kind of a testimonial 
in a paper if he pays for it. Admitting that to be perhaps 
a fact, I have this to say : I have never seen this tree since I oper- 
ated on it, I never heard of the patient until I received three 
papers, one from Colorado, one from Iowa and one from 111. I 
must say with due courtesy to these editors, I have never 
acknowledged tlie receipt of those favors. I was somewhat sur- 
prised at its marvelous growth and it would not surprise me if 
the tree had died. 

The first thing I did to this tree was to give it a good pruning, 
the next was to give it a good washing, so as to open the pores. 
Then my aim was to find what kind of sap flowed in its veins, 
pure or impure. I examined the lungs, (the leaves), to see if the 



34 HORTICULTUKISTS' HANDBOOK. 

breathing apparatus was all right, then I went to the roots to see 
if they were too far gone to partake of nourishment and medi- 
cine. I found a very sick patient. I prescribed a stimulant, 
also a blood purifier and an insect exterminator. The result was 
I cured my patient, but like many other patients it got well per- 
haps a little too fast. It produced a two feet growth. If this tree 
was permitted to go into winter with those tender growths, that 
should have been cut back almost a foot, in Sept., so as to harden 
the wood for winter, besides having its roots well mulched, the 
tree might die. Be that as it may, I cured the tree, and if the 
nurse had let it overdo itself so as to cause a relapse, it would be 
his fault and not mine. I have this to say for the nurse, Mr- 
David Brothers, he is a gentleman and his wife a lady. I found 
the blight bringing ruin to many orchards in Colorado, some 
being completely ruined. 

I went from Denver to Salt Lake and found that this disease 
had put in its appearance, but to no great extent ; went from 
Salt Lake to Boise Citj', Idaho, and found it a little worse in 
Idaho than in Utah. Returned home so as to spend the 4th 
with my family. 

Having been informed that the blight was doing great damage 
in Iowa and Nebraska, I left Seattle the 15th day of August, by 
way of the Great Northern to St. Paul, and by Minneapolis to 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. This city and vicinity has long been 
noted for its fine apples, and now what can be said ? I don't 
mean to exaggerate in a single instance, neither do I when I say 
the apple trees of Council Bluffs are a pitiable sight to behold. 
Hundreds of trees are dead and many more dying. After a stay 
of only one and one-half days, I took train for Fremont, Neb. 
While I found many blighted trees in this city, they were not 
near as bad as at Council BlufiB. Making but a short stay, I 
took train for Lincoln. Finding the condition much the same, I 
hastened to Bennett, 18 miles from Lincoln, having lived in this 
locality for over three years, while a commercial manforBloom- 
ington nurseries, and having sold more trees in that part during 
the years of '78, '79 and '80 than all the other tree salesmen put 
together. I found hundreds of fine large orchards that had been 



HOBTICULTUEISTS' HANDBOOK. 35 

sold by me as little two or three year olds, had now become 
mammoth fruit trees, but I am sorry to say that on a further 
examination I found that many of those orchards had, to all 
appearances, been stung by the sting of death. While I found 
but few trees dead, very many were dying. I staid with my old 
time friends and acquaintances for over two months. I found 
that some of the orchardists had given up all hope, while others 
were satisfied that their orchards could be saved, and are putting 
forth an effort to save them, using my prescription. I am sorry 
to say that this writing is too early in the season to know what 
success will crown their efforts. As I stated before, there seems 
to be such a diversity of opinion as to the cause, nevertheless I 
find two to one who believe that this blight is caused by the hot 
sun, while others say it is electricity. I differ ; I claim that it is 
beyond any question a parasite, and must be treated as such. 
Others say it can't be cured, I say it can ; I say if it can't be 
cured, it means ruin to the apple and pear industry in the 
United States. 

TREATMENT. 

Use same method as for Peach Yellow. 




TOMATO BLIGHT. 



During July and August, 1892, I made a trip from Seattle to 
Eastern Washington and Idaho, stopping at Ellensburg and 
Spokane, Wash., thence to Moscow, Idaho, thence by stage to 
Lewistou, thence by row boat down the Snake River (75 miles) 
to Rapera, thence to Walla Walla. On my return trip I stopped 
at Grant, The Dalles, thence to Seattle by way of Portland, Ore. 
My only object in making this trip was to investigate what dis- 
eases were to be found in the orchard and vegetable kingdom. 
In my line of travel I found that both orchard and garden had 
fallen heir to many diseases, such as San Jose scale, woolly 
aphis, codlin moth and many others of a similar nature. But 
what I found to an alarming extent was tomato blight, this be- 
ing the finest tomato producing country I ever saw. I found 
that whole acres had been planted. The crop looked thrifty and 
fine, when all at once the tops began to turn yellow. This, fol- 
lowing down the stalks, soon reached the roots and the crop be- 
came a dismal failure. I find that some writers on this subject 
advise the planting of crops in the shade or putting a roof of 
muslin over the broad acres devoted to this industry in this state 
and elsewhere. Let me ask, is it not the same climate, sun, 
heat and moisture those people have now that they had when 
they grew mammoth crops for many j^^ears previous to the ar- 
rival of this dreadful disease ? Then if it is, why raise a perfect 
crop then, and blighted crop now ? Permit me to answer this 
question. Years ago you had no disease in your tomato crop? 
now you have t(»mato cholera (blight). This disease, without a 
question in my mind, is a vegetable parasite and has been sent 
to us by seed or otherwise, and like the cholera in the human 
family, it is transmitted to the sap through the pores, making 
its death mission seen and felt on the most tender branches^ 
growing worse and worse till the sting of death has performed 
its mission. 



horticulturists' handbook, 37 

The remedy that I would advise : Never plant your tomatoes 
in the same place two years in succession. Never plant seed 
grown from infested plants. Don't plant your seed in the same 
hot bed without first removing all old earth that has been used 
the previous year. Fumigate hot beds thoroughly with burning 
sulphur, then whitewash with lime. When you plant the seed, 
soak over night in JSTo. 10 or some other good insecticide. When 
you set out your plants put a little lime and guano, also bone 
meal, in the earth that you plant them in. A tablespoon full of 
guano is enough for a six quart pan of earth. Scatter lime 
broadcast over your field so as to make the ground look white. 
Spray often with No. 10, as for green aphis. (I don't say that 
this treatment will cure, but I am of the opinion that it will. 
Investigate by following my directions and see for yourself) 



PEACH YELLOW. 



This is a subject that has been agitating the minds of many 
horticulturists, who have been and are interested in the growing 
of this delicious fruit. Well it may be, from the fact that it is 
and has been laying waste, to a very great extent, the peach 
growing industry of many of the Eastern and Southern states, 
and is commencing to put in its appearance west of the Rocky 
Mountains, having been found to exist in many fine young 
orchards in the vicinity of Salt Lake, Utah ; one orchard in par- 
ticular, owned by a Mr. King. This gentleman has about 15 
acres of fine bearing trees, but sad to say, Mr. King purchased a 
bill of trees from an Eastern firm, and with this order came the 
peach yellow. I examined the young orchard while in Utah, 
this (1894) spring and am sorry to say I found about 25 trees 
dead from this cause, and perhaps 150 in a dying condition. In 
fact the disease is scattered broadcast over the orchard. This 



38 horticulturists' handbook. 

disease I found to exist both in Oregon and Washington, in the 
great peach growing belts of the Columbia and Snake river val- 
leys. 

It is not so much a question that it does exist as how to get 
rid of it. I am often asked the question, Can the peach yellow 
be cured ? My answer is most emphatically, yes. In answering 
in the affirmative, I am aware of the fact that I am brought to 
differ greatly from many prominent theorists and practical hor- 
ticulturists. Nevertheless doctors differ as regards the curing of 
diseases in the human family, why not horticulturists differ ? 
Has any professor wrought any more marvelous changes or 
cures in his profession than has the horticulturist ? From the 
poisonous peach almond they have produced the most whole- 
some and delicious fruit ever made use of by man. I am aware 
that both professions have their quacks, and I am of the opinion 
that the horticulturist profession has more than its share. All 
I ask of those who may criticise the curing of this disease is to 
investigate what are the component parts of the medicine and 
the method by which the cure is performed. Give it a thorough 
test and judge for themselves. 

FALL OR WINTER TREATMENT FOR PEACH YELLOW. 

The first thing to be done is to trim back to the living wood. 
Don't make a cut where you have not cut into the living wood 
cut the top back pretty well and scrape ail the rough bark off 
the tree. Then spray with arsenical compound at the rate of 
1 lb. to 8 or 10 gals, of water. Pat in enough lime to make the trees 
take on a creamy cast. Put hot grafting wax on all of the 
wounds caused by trimming or otherwise. Spray with this treat- 
ment after the leaves have fallen and again just as the buds be- 
gin to get large in the spring ; again immediately after the blos- 
soms have fallen, and again ten days from date of last spraying ; 
then again in 15 days. Treat the roots with the same treatment 
as for apple twig blight. Don't forget this part of it or your trees 
will not be cured. 



BLACK SPOT. 



I have found in my travels, that this insect is doing consider- 
able damage to apple and pear orchards in almost all of tho cen- 
tral and middle states,reaching west and south as far as California) 
doing great damage to some varieties of trees, seemingly more 
to young trees, than those of more mature age. The first thing 
that becomes noticeable is a little sunken spot in the bark, having 
a dark brown appearance, finally becoming black, the spots vary- 
ing in size from a ten cent piece to that of a saucer (sometimes 
larger). The second year the bark mostly separates from the 
wood. I have examined the bark to see if I could find any per- 
foration, but failed to find an}'^ whatever. I have then removed 
the bark, placed it under a microscope and almost invariably 
found a large quantity of active, little parasites. How they got 
there is a mystery; I can't say that I really know, but there is 
one thing certain, they are there, and that they are of the Phylox' 
era family. I don't consider this a hard disease to cure if taken 
in time. I make this statement from the fact that I have treated 
bad cases of this disease in some fifteen difi'erent states ; my first 
in Michigan, my last in California. Let me be right or wrong as 
regards the true cause of this disease, the one important question 
is "can it be cured," and if so, how? I answer this question by 
giving my prescription, being one I have prescribed for years and 
I can say at the present writing, I have never lost a tree where 
my prescription was properly administered. 

DIRECTIONS. 

First thing to be done is to remove all the affected bark, 
scrape the wood so as to take all decaj^ed substance off 
the wood. Cut into the live bark so as when done you have a 
fresh wound all around the affected part. Then appl}'^ hot graft- 
ing wax with a brush (put grafting wax on hot). If the affected 
place is large, cover the wound over with a piece of muslin which 



40 horticulturists' handbook. 

will adhere to the grafting wax, then paint the muslin with the 
same prescription. If the tree is old, fertilize so as to start the 
tree growing. Use same treatment as for peach yellows. If the 
tree is very bad I always protect it by the use of a board (see 
"Planting an Orchard"), as described in a previous article. 



GRASS HOPPERS. 



It was in the spring of 1868, that I accepted of Horace Gree- 
ley's advice : "Go west, young man, go west." Having accumu- 
lated considerable of this world's goods, I hitched a fine pair of 
blacks to my carriage and started on an overland trip from 
Chicago, on the first daj' of Sept. of the same year, enroute for 
southern Minnesota. I arrived about Oct. first and located at 
Graham Lake in Nobles county, and, like many other young 
men, I was very anxious to become a land owner in the then 
far west. I soon lay claim to 160 acres as a soldiers' homestead. 
Soon a pre-emption, then a tree claim; after which I added to 
my possessions by buying more from the railroad company. My 
main object was to soon become the greatest nursery-man on 
earth. I soon had men and teams at work erecting a shanty. 
April soon came and I had teams at work rolling over the sod ; 
then wheat was being sowed on the new breaking broadcast ; 
harvest came, and strange to say 12 bushels of No. 1 wheat per 
acre came with it. I imagine how I must have looked as I stood 
with my arms folded, viewing my possessions, and how I figured 
to add more to my landed estate. Soon the fall plowing was 
done, winter passed and spring was with us ; 50 acres of wheat 
was then sowed, with other crops in accordance. Imagine how 
I must have felt when old wheat prophets informed me that I 
had a good prospect for an average wheat crop of 45 to 50 bushels 
per acre, and all the rest of my crops with much the same pros- 



horticulturists' handbook. 41 

pects. But after dinner, one beautiful mid-summer day, just 
about the time the wheat was in the dough, I stood in the door 
viewing my possessions and was about to exclaim, "I am mon- 
arch of all I survey, my rights there are none to dispute," when 
I saw something like a snowflake fall in the wheat, then another, 
and casting my ej^es heavenward, looking the sun square in the 
face, I found that the sun was somewhat darkened by something 
that had the appearance of a snow storm. Soon the storm had 
fallen, and the sun shone with renewed brightness. But what a 
sight to see ; every stalk of grain was laid level with the ground, 
the weight of the grasshoppers being so great. In 48 hours the 
crop was so far ruined that I only thrashed 35 bushels of inferior 
wheat that year ; their mission was accomplished, as far as the 
destruction of the crop was concerned ; but there was more to 
follow. The first day seemed to be devoted to the destruction of 
vegetation ; the second to co-habiting ; and the third to boring 
holes in the ground, and the depositing of eggs for a second crop. 
It was interesting to anyone who was given to the studj^ of 
nature to have watched the scientific process by which the egg 
deposit was conducted. The first thing thej^ did was to bore 
with their tail's end into the ground, as far as they could get for 
their wings. This when completed was as smoothly and scien- 
tifically done as if bored with a gimblet. After this work has 
been performed the next work was to line the inside of the hole 
with a kind of glue-wax, which when done had somewhat the 
appearence of a honey cell. Then commenced the egg deposit ; 
every hole was filled with eggs averaging from 75 to 100 each. 
After this work was done the next thing they did was to cap the 
cell with the same substance that they built the walls of the cell 
of; after which they covered the cell over with the loose dirt that 
they had excavated to make the hole with. This was done to 
hide their deposit from their enemies. It froze 40 degrees below 
zero that winter, and some hoped that the eggs would be killed 
by the frost. Every one sowed in the spring ; soon the eggs 
hatched and the young hoppers appeared as numerous as the 
sands of the sea shore. This work of destruction they persisted 
in for four years, and by this time I left my possessions to grass- 



42 horticulturist's handbook. 

hoppers and creditors, wending my way with my wife to St. Paul 
and at the same time swearing vengence on grasshoppers. 

I can assure the readers of this sketch that to this day I can't 
look into the face of a grasshopper with the least degree of allow- 
ance ; and as for me to try to give a concise history of what 
further happened, I would say "write a book." 

REMEDY. 

When you see them in the air like a snow storm, fix your eyes 
on them until you see them begin to alight. When you have 
made sure that they have lit, if you are a fiddler, you must com- 
mence playing the "Arkansas Traveler'' and never let up until 
you see them arise and take their flight. Then you must change 
your tune by substituting, "Let old acquaintance be forgot and 
never brought to mind," and keep this up until you have seen 
the last of this particular swarm. Then see if they have de- 
posited their eggs. If they have, burn off your grain fields (that 
is if you do not want the straw) then do no fall plowing, but keep 
up one continual dragging so as to let birds and ants have free 
access to them. If they hatch thick in the spring, sow no small 
grain, but dig a deep ditch around five acres so as to be ready 
when they commence to travel, to strew straw in the ditch so 
that when they fall in you can burn them up. Don't plow the 
five acres that you have reserved until late in the spring. Add 
arsenical compound to No. 14 and spray before plowing ; then 
plow, plant and spray, and by keeping this up may get a part of 
a crop. 



THE FRUITS OF BOISE BASIN- 



Boise Basin, in which is situated Boise City, the capital of 
Idaho, has long been regarded as the garden spot of Idaho. It 
is possessed of rich soil that produces everything found in the 
temperate zone, and its climate is unsurpassed, being equible 
and healthful. The season in this basin or valley, is somewhat 
earlier than in the far-famed Salt Lake Valley, by reason of the 
lesser altitude, and crops mature earlier than in Salt Lake Val- 
ley. Horticulturists who have visited Boise Basin with a view 
to permanent location, pronounce it one of the best fruit sec- 
tions of the United States, but at the same time they state that 
it is the most pest-infected portion of the Eocky Mountains, Salt 
Lake not excepted. Once noted for its superior fruit, it is now af- 
flicted with infected orchards, its myriads of codlin moth, aphis 
and other fruit-destroying insects. The trees are literally alive 
with these insects which have taken the place of the beautiful 
and luscious fruit once so prolific in this beautiiul country. 
The orchards, once a source of great profit to the horticulturist, 
are at present quite the reverse of this and their glory is 
departing. How to recupe the trees, is the question now 
confronting the orchardists of Boise. Can they be restored to 
their former vigor and be made as prolific and profitable as 
in their earlier years ? is the question. They undoubtedly can, 
but the owners of these splendid orchards cannot restore them 
by standing around with their hands in their pockets. It is go- 
ing to require work to accomplish this end, and the sooner it is 
undertaken, the more quickly it will be accomplished. The 
work of restoration should no longer be delayed, and it should 
be pushed energetically and persistently. It means a great deal 
to Boise and to the state of Idaho. It means the restoration of 
confidence in Idaho as a great fruit growing state ; it means ad- 
ditional wealth to the communitv. 



BARK BOUND TREES. 



Leaves being the lungs of the trees, they sometimes fail to do 
their duty, and as a result there is an overflow of sap which fails 
to reach its destination and therefore comes to instantaneous 
standstill, bursts nature's blood vessels and the tree bleeds. 
This causes the tree to be bark-bound. In this case take 
a sharp knife and cut the bark, commencing on the large limbs 
and down to the large brace roots, cutting back to the wood. 
This should be followed by same prescription as mentioned for 
borers. 



FUNGUS DISEASES. 



There is an'l has been much said regarding this disease among 
fruit growers generally. And well there may be, from the fact 
that a great portion of the apple crop of this part of the coast has 
been ruined this year (1894) by this disease. I find but few of 
the fruit growers whom I have interviewed have much idea 
what it is or what they have to contend with. They know they 
have it, and many are battling against this disease. One gen- 
tleman who resides at Ross, Washington, has sprayed twice 
with a highly recommended insecticide, which has proved 
a failure. The orchardist should be educated so as to realize 
the fact that this disease is a vegetable parasitical fungus, and is 
in its nature like smut on wheat. The wheat may lay in a 
granary all winter, the germ of the disease dried with the wheat^ 
so it is hard to realize how the germ of life in either could exist. 
Nevertheless when sown they both spring into life. So it is with 



horticulturist's handbook. 45 

the apple and pear fungus. The live fungus germ is to be found 
on the tree in the wintef . It will be found on the dead leaves 
under the trees, and when I have been searching for this species 
in the orchards I have often hummed to myself, "The old oaken 
bucket, the moss covered bucket," etc. The time to get rid of 
smut on wheat is before it is sown. The time to get rid of or 
lessen apple or pear scab, is to trim, spray and clean 
your orchards while in a dormant condition. Kill the germ and 
you kill the life. Don't wait until the horse is stolen before you 
lock the stable door. 



A RECENT VISIT TO SOME OF THE HOP FIELDS OF 
WASHINGTON. 



Having been informed of the great damage and partial ruin 
the hop aphis had brought to the hop crop of 1893 in the state of 
Washington, I concluded to make another visit in order to see if 
I could ascertain what might be looked for in the way of another 
invasion of this pest the present year. I arrived home on or 
about the first day of May from an extensive trip in Utah, as 
mentioned in a previous article, and I immediately commenced 
an investigation of this subject. There being many hop vines 
planted for ornament in many of the yards of this city (Seattle), 
I was not at a loss to find the object of my purpose, and that 
was to satisfy myself whether or not the hop aphis was going to 
put in an appearance. Day after day my glass was brought to 
bear on the hop leaves in many yards of this city. On the 10th 
day of May I found the great object of my prolonged search, and 
that was one solitary hop fly in the act of depositing her eggs. 
On a close and still closer observation I found in the lapse of 
three days that one hundred had come as reinforcements. This 
being the case, on or about June 1st I set out for a visit to the 



46 horticulturist's handbook. 

hop fields, making my first stop at Kent, a beautiful little city 
situated 16 miles south of Seattle, and in the midst of the great 
hop growing belt of the famous "White Eiver valley. I soon me* 
one of the most prominent hop growers, who was no less than 
Senator Vandevanter. When informed of my mission he took 
me into his buggy and I accompanied him to his large hop yard 
which jwas not far distant. On my arrival in the hop field, in 
the first hill I found lice in small numbers, and in the next and 
so on. I soon satisfied my curiosity, much to the disgust of the 
owner of this beautiful hop ranch. 

On my return to Kent, I set out for another ranch just south 
of the city. With grip in hand I had only gOne a short distance 
when I met a gentleman who immediately seemed to look me 
up one side and down the other, seemingly trying to determine 
in his own mind whether I was or was not a stray from Coxey's 
army (this army having just left Seattle). After passing the 
usual salutations, I ventured to ask, ''Are you a hop-grower, 
sir?" ''Yes, sir?" was the prompt reply. Being then in close 
proximity to a hop field, he with the point of the finger and the 
nod of the head, informed me that he was the owner. Becoming 
somewhat nervous from my imaginary idea of who this gentle- 
man took me to be, I thoughtlessly continued, "Are you lousy, 
sir?" With one fierce look that would have made an army 
mule shake like an aspen leaf, he advanced three paces toward 
me. I unhesitatingly moved my forces three paces to the rear. 
"What do you mean, sir," was his reply, "do you mean to insult 
me?" "Ko-o sir," was my speedy answer, in a trembling voice, 
"it is the hop lice I mean, sir." A pleasant smile came over the 
gentleman's face when I explained my mission to the hop fields 
of White River Valley. After a pleasant hand-shake and due 
apologies were exchanged, I immediately became the guest of 
my newly-made friend. He escorted me to his residence, where- 
upon his estimable wife finding that I was much in need of what 
is always essential to supply the wants of the inner man, set 
about to supply the long-felt want. After a sumptuous repast, 
I was conducted to his hop ranch, where I immediately com- 
menced the search, but was not long in determining satisfactorily 



hoeticulturist's handbook. 47 

to my own mind, that the pest was to be found in this yard (in 
small numbers) from center to circumference. Having satisfied 
myself of this fact, I was soon on the road. 

Being somewhat acquainted with one of Washington's hop- 
kings, who lived about five miles distant, I started out with grip 
in hand. Passing one hop field after another I soon reached my 
destination. I was ushered into the presence of his majesty, who 
was no less a personage than Mr. Patrick Hayes, who is the first, 
it is said who ventured to plant a hop ranch in Washington, and 
who is now one of the many who have made hop growing a 
grand success, in the greatest hop producing country on this con- 
tinent (in my opinion). After a pleasant greeting by Mr. Hayes 
and his genial and much esteemed wife and family, the evening 
was not long in passing. Thereupon I was shown by my host to 
my final resting place for the night. After first viewing my 
pleasant surroundings, my weary body was soon at rest and 
sound asleep in a bed good enough for the king himself. 

In the morning after being shown through one of his mam- 
moth hop fields, I became convinced that the hop aphis was no 
respecter of persons. Being persuaded of this fact, I also was 
convinced of another in my own mind, that is if the hop crop of 
Washington is saved in 1894, it will only be by one persistent 
efibrt on the part of the hop growers in the way of spraying, and 
even then, I am of the opinion, in spite of their efibrts, they will 
not be able to save more than a two-thirds crop. Something will 
have to be done more than has ever been in the way of a general 
cleaning up of the orchards, in order to destroy the egg deposit. 
Had I a hop ranch and an orchard, I would see to it that there 
was not a living insect germ left in it. I would cut down all 
wild plum and brush that was near the hop field ; burn all old 
vines and clean up generally. As this is a very important part 
to be taken in this war of extermination, as I have said before, 
let me say again, I would rather undertake to destroy a thou- 
sand insects while in a dormant condition, or in egg form, than 
to destroy 10 while winged and flying in the air. The sooner the 
farmers become educated, and have opened their ej^es to this 
fact, the sooner they will have waged a successful war 



/ 
48 horticctlturist's handbook. 

against their commou enemy. After cleaning up, they should 
spray with salt, sulphur and lime. Saturate the ground well, 
drenching the hills, and spray again as early as the young shoots 
begin to appear ; then keep up one continual spraying until the 
crop is safe. The worst trouble that I see is the expense of the 
medicine they now use (quassia and whale oil soap). If the hop 
growers can't get a cure that is cheaper than soap and quassia, 
the cost will greatly lessen the profits. 



A NEW ENEMY OF WASHINGTON HOPS. 



Soon after returning from my visit to the hop fields, described 
in the preceding article, I was informed that a new disease had 
been discovered in a hop yard in the Puyallup valley, a distance 
of 36 miles from Seattle. This being somewhat in my line of in- 
vestigation I was soon en route for the scene of action. I had 
not traveled over eight miles when I began to enter and pass 
through some of the hop fields to be found in my line of march, 
the fields becoming larger, still larger, as they presented them- 
selves to my view, until they seemed to form one great city of 
stakes, covering an area of thousands of acres. I can asure the 
readers of this narrative, it was a sight to behold, from the fact 
that the vines had reached the top of the poles, presenting an 
appearance as though planted there for ornament, each four hills 
forming a perfect square, the poles being in straight lines each 
way ; these poles were about ten feet high and great care seemed 
to have been observed in getting them all the same height. 
Commencing at one corner of these great fields, to the corner 
stake was fastened a strong twine, held seemingly by a nail in 
the top of the pole. This twine was stretched and fastened, both 
wa3'S, over nearly all the hop fields that came to my notice, form- 
ing one great network of twine. The hop vine having reached 



hokticultueist's handbook. 49 

the top of the poles, had sent out millions of runners, which, 
fastening themselves to the twine soon formed one majestic root 
over the entire hop fields, regardless of size. 

My mind having been absorbed in wonderment, time soon 
passed, and the day was far spent. After passing between two 
great hop fields, there came to my notice that beautiful little 
<;ity (Payallup,) that is known not only in every state of this 
Union, but in every civilized nation on earth, as being the 
greatest hop shipping city in the world for its size. 

Having one great object in view, on my arrival I hastened to 
learn where this newly discovered disease was to b» found, and 
Avas informed that it was discovered in one of Mr. Meeker's large 
-fields just east of the city. I asked, what Meeker? Ezra Meeker, 
was the prompt reply. With grip in hand I immediately went 
to Mr. Meeker's oflice. I was informed that he was not in, but 
was expected every minute. Making the object of my visit 
known to the gentlemen who were in charge of the oflBce, one of 
them kindly ofl'ered to accompany me to the hop field where the 
•disease was located. His ©O'er was accepted, and I soon found 
myself in a hop field containing, I presume, 75 acres. I was not 
long in discovering the fact that the disease was not a general 
thing to be found in the field, and under those circumstances I 
might just as well look for a needle in a haystack, therefore I 
made my search quite short. 

On our return I was pleased to find a gentleman whose ac- 
quaintance I had long desired to make, he being no less than the 
Hon. Ezra Meeker, who has a world-wide reputation as being 
Washington's hop king. On being told the object of my visit, he 
gave me a kind reception. One of his foremen was immediately 
called up by telephone and dispatched to procure and bring to 
the office the object of my mission. A kindly invitation to dine 
with Mr. Meeker having been accepted I was escorted into a fine 
residence, that for modern architecture and furnishing, compares 
favorably with many of our eastern mansions. After being in- 
troduced to the most estimable lady and other members of the 
household, I began to realize that I was the ^uest of a house- 
hold who had a beautiful home and knew how to enjoy it them- 



50 horticulturist's handbook. 

selves, and to make their guests feel that a proper share was 
extended to them. 

After tea I was presented with a formation (diseased root) re- 
sembling as to shape a medium sized watermelon cut in two in 
the center. The outside was covered somewhat with a hard, 
gristly substance, the inside or hollow portion being composed 
of a softer substance. This curious specimen (weighing three 
and one half lbs.) was found in the hill, just under the ground 
with the hollow side down, with many brace and fiber roots 
shooting out, seemingly for the purpose of furnishing nourish- 
ment to this odd freak of nature. The main vine was attached 
to the top side and this specimen was apparently the source 
from which the main vine received its nourishment. Mr. 
Meeker having described the disease to me previous to my hav- 
ing seen it, 1 ventured what I attributed to be the cause. This 
being the case I was somewhat anxious to make my predictions 
correct. This part of the investigation I will submit to Mr. 
Meeker as to whether I was correct or not. Those desiring fur- 
ther information pertaining to this part of my subject, I have 
the honor of referring to the hop king of Washington. Taking 
some of the decayed substance, similar to puss, out of the hollow 
part and placing it under my glass, I found two species of in- 
sects, one a tiny, little glossy, white, transparent magot. The 
other specimen was a little, somewhat transparent, louse, being 
not unlike, in many respects, some species of the aphis family, 
but being more closely related to the Phyloxera that has done so 
much damage in France. I am of the opinion that it might be 
named the '^Hop Phyloxera,^' and not miss its calling, as I am 
satisfied that there was at least 20,000 of these little insects to 
be found in this one specimen, the louse being the most 
numerous. 

This disease is not a fungus. The knots caused by the woolly 
aphis might as well be called fungus growth, from the fact t^at 
it is the aphis that forms a sore on the tree by forming colonies 
and concentrating their force in one spot, keeping up one (or 
many) continual sapping in the one place, and the tree putting 
forth one continual effort to heal the wound inflicted by its 



horticulturist's handbook. 51 

enemy, in order to do so produces a growth which forms a knot. 

Remove the cause and if the tree is in good growing condition 
it will soon have healed over the wound, forming a sound, solid 
knot (not fungus). The disease in the hop is practically the 
same. If the tree is too far gone, dig it up and burn it. Don't 
pile it in the fence corner. Examine the hop roots and where 
there is to be found warts or lumps as big as a goose egg, dig 
them up and burn them. Where they are to be found smaller 
and less diseased, use the same treatment as prescribed for 
woolly aphis and you will soon conquer this terrible disease. 

During my visit to the city of hops, I had the pleasure of an 
interview with Mr. Chas. Ross and his brother Mr. Ross, staying 
with the latter over night, receiving the usual kindness shown 
me which makes Washington farmers noted for their hospitality. 
These gentlemen are extensive hop growers and prosperous 
farmers, Mr. Chas, Ross being a member of the State Board of 
Horticulture, and from my interview with him I don't hesitate 
to say, he is the right man in the right place. 



DESTRUCTION OF THE FRUIT CROP. 



Ten years ago, Oregon was noted for its prolific apple crop, 
and the beautiful red and lucious fruit of that state was cele- 
brated all over the Pacific Coast, from Alaska to the Gulf of Cal- 
ifornia, and from the Pacific ocean to the Rocky mountains. 
This was before the codlin moth and the aphis appeared in the 
orchards. A worm-eaten apple was then the exception, but now 
it is the rule. The apple crop had never been a failure and the 
trees were yearly burdened with their weight of enticing fruit. 
Ten to fifteen bushels to the full-bearing tree was not extraordi- 
nary, and the farmer and horticulturist always found a readj'^ 
market at good prices for the product of the orchard ; sure fruit 



^2 



horticulturist's handbook. 



crop brought abundant reward. Things have changed since the 
advent of the destructive insects ; the apple trees are no longer 
bowed down with the precious load ; sound apples are a rarity ; 
the big red apples of Oregon are a myth. The orchards that 
yielded profit are now profitless, and the farmers question 
whether to destroy the trees or leave them stand, monuments of 
past glory ; victims of myriads of pestiferous insects. 

The question of how to clean the orchards of Oregon, Wash- 
ington and the whole country, now confronts the orchardist. 
The pests are everywhere, and they are industriously working 
while the fruit raiser is negligent. There is scarcely a fruit tree 
in the country that is not the breeding ground of these pests, and 
the fate of the Oregon apples will be the fate of the fruit of every 
section of the Pacific coast states. 

The pests are here, and they are here to stay, unless united 
and intelligent effort is made to get rid of them. They are mul- 
tiplying yearly by the million, and their multiplication means 
the destruction of the fruit interests of the whole country. 

It may illustrate, to a certain extent, how widespread this 
fruit plague is if I quote at this point several articles bearing 
upon this subject, published in newspapers in various states. 
They are taken almost at random but will probably cover the 
point. 




INSECT PESTS IN SEATTLE. 



"Seattle, Jan. 10, 1893. 

To the Editor of the Post- Intelligencer: I have of late inspected 
Seattle from center to circumference. I have now before me 100 
twigs taken from 100 yards of this city, commencing at a point 
close to Grace M. E. church, near Lake Washington, thence to 
Jackson street, branching off on Bush, Sutter, Taylor and Wil- 
fred streets, returning to Jackson street and following it to 9th, 
thence on 9th to James ; thence on James to 6th, Sth and 4th, 
missing no yard in my line of investigation having any fruit, 
shade or ornamental trees worthj^ of note. On examination 
what do I find. Here on the apple twig I find 50 scales, known 
to me as the "cottony cushing scale." They seem to have but 
little choice as to the tree or shrub they infest. I have just 
found them in incalculable numbers on apple, pear, plum and 
cherry trees and currant bushes; also on thorn, elm, poplar, wil- 
low and mountain asli trees. The soft maple, however, is en- 
tirely exempt. This scale may be easily mistaken for the woolly 
maple bark louse, as described in the first biennial report of the 
Washington State Board of Horticulture, pages 87 and 88. Here 
you find their eggs in deposits of from 700 to 1000, small, white 
and spherical. The cottony cushing scale deposits from 200 to 
500, rarely 700. The young (larvae) is dark red in color. The 
parent spins numerous ropes or balls of a white, cottony sub- 
stance, the young scales taking up their temporary abode in this 
cottony mass, seemingly in order to receive heat and strength 
in the sunlight for a short time, after which, climbing up their 
silken web, thej^ reach the limb, soon scattering broadcast over 
the tree, inserting the beaks into the tender twigs and leaves, 
poisoning and sapping the life of the tree. Three j^ears ago I 
found the scale in but two yards of this city. Today I find them 
scattered broadcast. I am satisfied that there are millions now 
where there were thousands three and a half years ago. For a 
more concise description of this insect, consult our most eminent 
authorities, such as Prof. C. V. Biley, TJ. S. Entomologist, Com- 
stock and others. 

"Now holding another twig under my glass, what do I find. 
A living, crawling mass of little insects of a dark russet brown 
color, covered with a down of a cottony appearance. If there is 



54 horticulturist's handbook, 

any one curse greater than another in the way of fruit pests this 
is it. It is the woolly aphis. This insect confines its work of 
destruction to the apple tree. I have found them in countless 
millions on the wild crab tree of the forest. They infest the 
trunk, limbs and branches, forming knots all over the tree from 
the size of a pea to that of a goose egg. Thej^ are also subter- 
ranean and work at the roots of the trees, leaving them in the 
same condition as they leave the tops, thus in a short time com^ 
pletely ruining the tree. Three years ago I found them in a few 
yards in this city. Kow I find them in many of our best yards, 
there being little, if any, effort put forth to get rid of them. I 
am satisfied that we have in this city 1000 for one we had three 
years ago. 

"I now come to the oyster shell scale or bark louse, which you 
will find described in any of the bulletins issued by the State 
Board of Horticulture. I hold a twig in my hand which is eight 
inches in length, averaging half an inch in diameter. I esti- 
mate this twig to contain at least 1000 perfect scales. In turn- 
ing one of these scales bottom side up it seems a hollow, empty 
shell of a dry, gluey appearance, but on further examination I 
find that this shell contains about 30 pretty white eggs. These 
are the eggs of the oyster-shell scale, which is scattered over our 
city. I leave an estimate to be made of the increase of 1894 
over 1893 to some of the readers of this article, who may be bet- 
ter posted in figures than I am. 

"I now hold in my hand an apple twig 12 inches in length. It 
has the appearance of being covered with a black, smutty sub- 
stance. I have placed this twig under my glass, and the first 
thing that comes to my notice is a green louse. It is the honey 
dew aphis. It is midwinter, and still this pretty little green 
louse lives, moves and has its being on the fruit trees of our 
beautiful city. On further examination of this twig, I find that 
the black cast above described, is caused by thousands of little 
oblong, black, shining eggs. These are the eggs of the honey 
dew aphis. This is the cause, to a great extent, of the black 
cast that is given to our apple trees. These insects are not only 
bringing but have brought ruin to our apple orchards. 

"I now hold in my hand a small twig of a prune tree, and to 
my old dim eyes it presents a reddish cast. On placing the twig 
under a glass, I find the eggs of the red spider, and if there is one 
little red egg there are 10,000 on this little prune twig. If this 
twig, four inches in length, contains 10,000 eggs, how many eggs 
are on the large sized prune tree that this twig was taken from. 
Then consult any of our prominent authorities and find what 
increase you may look for in the insect crop of 1894. 



HORTICULTURIST S HANDBOOK. 55 

"I have now quit writing and gone to whittling. I have selected 
aiine, thrifty currant limb of last year's growth. The limb is 18 
inches in length and averages half an inch in diameter. I have 
split the limb through the center. On doiug so I find there is no 
pith in it, and on further investigation I find that what appears 
to have been the pith has taken the form of manure. I have 
split another twig ; here I find the pith only gone in part. On a 
still further investigation I find the invader that is completely 
ruining the great majoritj^ of the currant shrubs of this city, and 
perhaps of the state. I have three very fine specimens crawling 
over my paper as I write. I saj^ they are perfectly beautiful ; my 
wife has just looked at them and she says they are perfectly 
disgusting, so this is where we differ. This is a white grub-like 
worm, a good half inch in length, not full grown, with a reddish 
or bronze colored head. This is the imported currant worm or 
borer. It does not subsist on the foliage and can well be called 
imported, from the fact that a young bush may look clean, 
healthy and thrift}^, while at the same time from three to five 
young larvae are exploring the pith of each limb, and can easily 
be shipped to the far corners of the globe, unnoticed. There is 
another currant worm that is common in the east and very de- 
structive, which is putting in an appearance in this state. This 
belongs to the saw-fly family, and is described as follows : Ne- 
matus ventricosus ; family, tenthredmidae ; sub-order, hymenoptfera. 
The yellow female saw-fly is about the size of a house fly, with a 
black head. She meets the smaller male, which has more black, 
and commences laying her whitish colored eggs along the veins 
underneath the leaf, about the first of May. These hatch in three 
or four days into green twenty -legged worms, dotted with black, 
until the last month, when thej" are entirely green. Thej'^ com- 
mence immediately to feed on the leaves. These larvae eat vo- 
raciousl}' and soon become full grown, being then three quarters 
of an inch long, when they either go into the ground, under the 
leaves, or remain attached to the bushes and spin a cocoon oi' 
brownish silk. The fly appears late in June or early in July and 
lays its eggs for a second brood, which comes forth before the end 
of the summer. These deposit their eggs ; the caterpillars again 
feed on the leaves, mature and enter the ground, where they re- 
main as paupau until the following spring, when the flies come 
forth to repeat the round of mischief. This insect may be called 
the imported currant worm, but if it is, I am not aware of the 
fact. 

"I have neither time nor sjjace to describe the ravages in our 
state of the tent caterpillar, peach, plum, apple and other borers. 
Neither have I space to describe the ravages of the codlin moth 



56 horticulturists' handbook. 

and other insects of a similar nature which are keeping pace 
with the other insects I have mentioned in this article. Never- 
theless I feel as though I must mention one more insect, and 
that is the little rose-leaf hopper that is playing havoc with the 
beautiful rose bushes of our city. It is very small and cannot be 
seen by the naked eye. It is a little sap-sucker, and subsists on 
the sap it takes from the tender growth and leaves of the rose 
bush, giving the rose a white-spotted appearance. I have been 
asked by many ladies, ''what is the matter with my rose bushes?" 
It is the little hopper, assisted somewhat by the rose aphis. If 
there were anj?^ of these hoppers here three years ago I failed to 
notice them. 

"I presume that many statements that I have herein made 
will be questioned as to their being the whole truth and nothing 
but the truth. I would suggest that Gov. McGraw select a com- 
mittee, composed of himself, chairman. Prof. Johnson, Entomol- 
ogist of the State University, and all city editoi-s. Then let that 
committee take a walk with me through a few of the yards of 
this city, and if I fail to prove the truth of the foregoing state- 
ments as a whole, I will admit to the public that I was in error, 
and I will make due apology to them. I am going to visit some 
of the hopyards in the near future, after which the readers of 
this article may hear from me again. 

W. H. Brown." 




FRUIT TREE PESTS IN UTAH. 



Much has been said regarding insects that are devastating the 
fruit industrj'^, not only of Utah, but all over the United States 
at the present time : and for this reason I wish to have a hearing 
through the columns of your valuable paper. I find that many 
of the old time citizens claim that a few years ago Utah had first 
class apples and peachs, not a worm to be found in an apple, and 
in 10 bushels of peaches and plums not a defective one was to be 
found. Now they say our fruit is no good. Why is this the case 
and where did these insects come from? I answer this question 
by stating that but few if any of these insects that are and have 
been destroying not only the world famed fruit of Utah, but the 
trees and shrubs as well, are natives of this territory. Then the 
question may be asked, as well as my statement criticised, where 
did they come from and how did they get here? Explain your- 
self. I answer this question by asking another: Where did our 
best citizens who are of foreign birth come from? The an- 
swer to this comes to me from the lips of every great and good 
American born citizen: From every civilized nation under the 
canopy of heaven (and some nations that are not civilized). I, 
without any hesitancy, concede the answer as given to my ques- 
tion, correct. But still another question, permit me to ask: 
Was there anj^ distinction made between the great and good citi- 
zens of foreign birth and the low and depraved? Did not the 
same ship that carried manj^ of the great minds of this nation, 
carr}^ the murderer, the thief, and the scape-goats of all nations, 
and by so doing have we not become a dumping ground and a 
cess-pool for all nations? So it is with the fruit, sLade and orna- 
mental trees that have been shipped into our country. Go with 
me to some of our best parks in this nation and I will show you 
trees, shrubs and plants, that represent every clime which civil- 
ization has reached ; and on most of these trees, shrubs and 
plants, I will show you an insect that represents every clime in 
the civilized world. There was no distinction made between the 
tree, plant or shrub that was free from this multifarious and 
pestiferous family, and the tree, shrub or plant that was free from 
those insects. I do not wish to be understood to saj^ that all 
the mean people come from other countries, or that all injurious 
insects come from other nations ; we have our share of both. My 



58 



HORTICULTURISTS' HANDBOOK. 



claim is that many of the worst insects are being palmed off on 
us, for instance, the woolly aphis, the American blight. This 
insect is one of the very worst insects that the apple tree is sub- 
jected to and was kaown in Europe a hundred years before 
America was discovered. This insect is to be found scattered 
broadcast over three-fourths of the apple orchards of the United 
States. The San Jose, or pernicious scale, was first found at 
San Jose, Cal., hence it derives its name from the fact that it 
was first discovered there. There is no doubt that this insect 
came from South America. The phylloxera has laid waste many 
of the vineyards of France for years and now this disease, the 
worst of all diseases, is in our midst. Tlie gypsy moth is also 
an insect of foreign birth. This escaped from the cage of one 
who, I pi'esume, thought he was going to confound the wisdom 
of the wise in his investigation of insect life. Now it has be- 
come such a plague in some of the eastern states that the inhab- 
itants of whole counties turn out in picnic parties and a war of 
extermination waged. I have neither time nor space to make 
mention of the imported currant worm and other insects of a 
similar nature that are too numerous to mention. The question 
that would be most interesting to the reader of this article, is 
what kind of insects are to be found in Utah. I have this to 
say : That I have spent over three months investigating this 
question in fovir counties in this territory and that after a more 
prolonged investigation I will attempt at least to inform my read- 
ers on this subject. W. H. Brown, 

Practical Entomologist. 
—Deseret News, May 6th, 1894, Salt Lake, Utah. 




WHY FRUIT TREES DIE. 



"Seattle, July 26, 1894. 

"To the Editor : The Post-InteUigeneer of Wednesday, the 
25th inst, contained the following : 

"Tacoma, July 24. — [Special.] — Owing to the large number of 
requests from Washingion fruit growers and the State Board of 
Horticulture, the United States government, department of path- 
ology, has arranged to send ISTewton B. Pierce to this state to in- 
vestigate the cause of the destruction of the great number of 
trees. Most of the diseased trees are between two and three 
years old." 

"As a man who has had considerable experience in this line, 
I take upon myself the responsibility to give your readers my 
opinion, so far as one reason is concerned. I take it for granted 
that all the readers of your journal who are horticulturists, and 
those who are not, are aware of the fact that there is vegetable 
and animal life. Take animal life, and you will find the whole 
make-up of the general composition is a very delicate piece of 
handiwork by the Creator. When disease sets in this wonderful 
piece of machinerj^ requires a skillful physician to make the 
necessary repairs. So it is with the vegetable kingdom. Take a 
young tree ; it is in its infancy ; it has the same relationship to 
the parent tree in many respects that the child has to the 
parents. The stock is tender, the leaves are tender, while in the 
nursery row. For a mother to say: "I am going to wean my 
babj^" often means death to her offspring, and more especially if 
she gives it too strong food. A ph^^siciaa may give twenty grains 
of quinine to the mother and she may not die ; give it to the 
child and in all probability it means death. So it is in regard to 
young trees ; to take the young tree from the nursery row is to 
dig it up by the roots. To plant it in new ground means new 
food. Perhaps the ground is too rich, perhaps too poor, perhaps 
too dry, perhaps too wet, perhaps killed by too much care and 
perhaps no care at all. 

"Perhaps the poor tree has been a little ailing, and a physician 
was called, who felt its pulse, looked at its tongue, sounded its 
lungs and pronounced the disease consumption — prescribed for 
an old tree and not a young one. The dose he gave it was too 
strong and he killed the patient. Let me ask, what is more ten- 
der than the voung leaves of a tree? 



60 horticulturists' handbook. 

"The leaves are the lungs ; these are one mass of pores. Place 
them under a powerful glass when it is 120 degrees in the shade^ 
when it is very dry, and you will find these little valves open 
and shut; this means gasjdng for breath. 

"I have before me a prescription prescribed by a physician oi 
trees for those lungs. Let us see what it is : 'Take one pound 
of sulphur, one pound of concentrated lye and two pounds of 
whale oil soap, add to this twenty-five gallons of water. Apply 
this to the lungs (leaves).' A pretty strong tonic. The physi- 
cian who prescribed this prescription evidentlj^ believes in either 
'kill or cure,' as it has about one-fourth pound of the combined 
strength to a gallon of water. 

"But let me ask, what is more tender than the fibrous roots of 
a young tender tree ? These tender roots feel their way down 
into the ground, deeper and deeper, in search of nourishment, 
feeling their way into the crevices of rocks, Nature's aim being 
to sip up from Mother earth the rich juices that go to make up 
the woody substance of the tender rose shrub, or the 1000 
growths that may be counted in the animal growths that go to 
make up the giant of the forest. Let me ask again what is more 
tender than those little fibei-s ? Expose them to the hot sun a 
few minutes and they become as dry as powder. And yet those 
tender rootlets are dug up by the nurseryman and unavoidably 
exposed to the wind, weather and sun. The nurseryman per- 
haps knows that there is a law requiring him to supply his cus- 
tomers with disinfected nursery stock, and he must disinfect his 
stock before shipping to them. Fearing that there might possi- 
bly be some insects of a pestiferous nature, he concludes to use a 
disinfectant. Reading over the many doctor books in his pos- 
session, he comes to the following prescription, 'Take two gallons 
of water, put into this one pound of sulphur, add to this one 
pound of concentrated lye, also fish oil one half gallon, kerosene 
oil one-half gallon. After properly made add to this eight gal- 
lons of water.' 

"Here you have about nine gallons of water when made to 
nine pounds of the compound medicine, making about one pound 
to each gallon of the emulsion. The trees are dipped into this 
emulsion, let stand long enough to kill all insects, which it will 
almost always do, as well as searing all the rootlets, as well as 
the bark on the tender limbs of the tree. Perhaps this work 
was not done in the nursery, but by the farmer before planting. 
Then a hurrah and cry goes up, 'Our young trees are dying.' 

"Use less strong medicine on the young tender leaves, limbs 
and rootlets, and you will have less young trees die in Washing- 
ton. W. H. BRO\yN." 



NO MORE PESTS. 



Prof. W. H. Brown, an expert horticulturist and entomologist 
of St. Paul, Minnesota, arrived in San Jose yesterday and located 
at the St. James Hotel. He is the inventor of "Prof. Brown's 
Insect Fxterminator," which has proven a great boon to orchard- 
ists wherever used. He was here last June and several leading 
orchardists were given an exhibition of the wonderful efficacy of 
his destroyer of fruit pests. Prof. Brown's insect exterminator 
has met with all possible success. It has been used extensively 
from St. Paul to Portland, Oregon, and not a single failure to 
kill all insect? on the trees sprayed has occurred. In St. Paul 
Prof. Brown was called upon to investigate the cause of the de- 
cay of the beautiful trees in public parks. He found half a 
dozen varieties of insect pests at work on them. Treatment with 
the exterminator killed all the pests and the trees again thrived. 
For this work he received columns of praise in the papers and 
thanks of the people. His remedj^ was used on fruit trees with 
like gratifying result. There was not an insect known to horti- 
culturists that did not succumb to its deadly effect, while the 
leaves and blossoms of the trees spx'ayed were entirelj^ unin- 
jured. When Mr. Brown started west with his remarkable pre- 
parations he carried with him letters of unqualified indorsement 
from nearly all of the leading men of St. Paul and many other 
sections of the state. Among them are Mayor Smith, Judges 
Chandler and Gilfilin, Gen. J. H. Bishop, Archbishop Ireland. 
Ex-Governor Ramsey and many others who have seen the bene- 
fits of the exterminator. The same success has attended the 
eflforts of Prof. Brown in all the other states. When trees are 
sprayed with his exterminator not a pest remains. He has 
testimonials from the leading orchardists of Oregon. E. W. 
Allen, of Portland, Secretary and Assistant Inspector of the 
State Board of Horticulture, enumerates a number of orchards 
visited by him which were so badly infested with San Jose scale^ 
woolly and green aphis that he thought it was impossible to re- 
claim them. He recites that the trees were sprayed by Prof.^ 
Brown, all of the insects killed and the trees became as healthy 
as the best. Mr. Allen concludes thus : "'I regard the wash 
used by you as ver}'^ eflective in the destruction of all insect pests- 
and most heartily recommend its use bj^ all who have trees or 



62 horticulturists' handbook. 

shrubs infested with insects injurious to them. I desire to thank 
you and those associated with you for the very effective and 
thorough work done in our orchards and yards in ridding them 
of the noxious insects that have infested them." 

Dr. J. E. Cardwell, President of the Oregon State Board of 
Horticulture, indorses the statement of tlie secretary. He has 
also letters in the strongest words of praise of his exterminator, 
from the individuals whose trees and shrubs were so success- 
fully treated. When here last June, Professor Brown visited 
the orchard of Col. Philo Hersey, President of the West Side 
Fruit-grower's Association, and the result is given in the follow- 
ing words, by Col. Hersey himself: "I hereby certify that Prof. 
W. H. Brown sprayed a prune tree that was badly infested with 
brown apricot scale, hatched and on the leaves. His spray, 
whatever it might be, began to show its effects as soon as dry. 
After three days I have this day examined many leaves and do 
not find a living scale. One twig on another tree, all of which 
was afflicted with the live scale on the leaf, was sprayed and the 
same results found on the leaves of the twig. The woolly and 
rose aphis immediately yielded to his treatment." A. Block, of 
Santa Clara also testified to the fact that trees of his infested 
with plum aphis and woolly aphis were successfully treated. 
From here Prof. Brown went to Watsonville and operated ex- 
tensively in the Pajaro valley and elsewhere in Santa Cruz, 
the same remarkable success attending his efforts. James 
Waters, owner of the Pajaro Valley Nursery, wrote a strong tes- 
timonial, as did also W. H. Bowman, owner of the Corralitos 
nursery, who was so well pleased that he bought the right for 
Santa Cruz county. Geo. W. Sill, of Watsonville, who is well- 
known here, writes: ''I do not hesitate to say that it is the 
most wonderful remedy ever applied to a tree or shrub, having 
seen it destroy woolly aphis, green aphis, plum aphis, codlin 
moth, black and brown scale, and hop lice in trees that had 
been washed with exterminators such as salt, sulphur and lime, 
rosin wash, I. X. L. and other exterminators such as have been 
used and recommended throughout our state and had failed to 
exterminate, his remedy killing instantly and leaving the tree 
and foliage in a good, clean and healthy condition. The trials 
have shown that there is not an insect known here that cannot 
he destroyed bj'^ one spraying with the exterminator." With 
this remedy at hand there is no excuse for pests of any kind 
whatever in the orchards, parks or gardens of the country and 
there is no doubt that its advent here will prove one of the 
greatest boons to orchardists. — San Jose (Cal.) Mercury, July 23, 
1892. 



TREES HAVE " THE GRIP." 



'* 'We will soon liave to commence doctoring the trees in the 
parks,' said W. A. Van Slyke, president of the board of park 
commissioners to a Globe reporter yesterday. 'You doubtless 
have discovered,' he continued, 'that the trees all over the city 
are ailing.' 

"The reporter had done a good deal of lounging in the shade 
during the past few months, and, of course, had his sj'mpathy 
aroused by the 'rocky' appearance of the horticultural specimens. 

" 'Trees are liable to derangements of their vital functions,' 
said the parkist, 'just as men are. Just now the trees all over 
the city are troubled with the grippe — if you choose to say so — 
and it doesn't require a microscope to show the worms that are 
destroying them. The trouble is due to prevailing ignorance 
rather than carelessness. People have their trees trimmed and 
cared for by men who don't know the first rudiments of tree cul- 
ture, and the result is the trees die. We had some trouble with 
the trees in Smith park — though it did not cost the city anj^- 
thing extra. The contractor who furnished the trees had to 
replace the dead ones at his own expense. In some cases the 
trees were not planted properly (the roots having insufficient 
moisture and nutriment), and in other cases the trees were be- 
set by worms. I took Prof. W. H. Brown, a scientific tree cul- 
turist, up to Smith park, and he extracted from one tree nearly 
a half-pint of the most villainous looking worms, conspicuous 
among them being the deadly "central wood borer." We re- 
vived one tree by placing among its roots an irrigating and fer- 
tilizing apparatus similar to those in the state capital grounds. 
The trees in Rice park will have to be treated in the same way, 
as they stand in "made ground," the fertilitj^ of which has be- 
come exhausted. Last August I noticed that one of the noble 
shade trees in Rice park was djdng. I hastened to procure the 
best medical aid by summoning Prof Brown. He called atten- 
tion to the fact that the leaves, which he called the lungs of the 
tree, were all falling ofl". The tree would have to die for want 
of breath if something were not done at once. A myriad of 
small parasites were at work on the tender underside of the 
leaves. A solution was thrown over the trees with a hose and 
sprinkler, the parasites were killed, and the tree revived, and is 



64 horticulturists' handbook. 

alive today. The trees in the Summit avenue boulevard have 
got to be looked after, and, in fact, the trees all over the city 
need immediate and careful attention.' 

''a horticulturist talks. 

"Prof. W. H. Brown, horticulturist and entomologist, was next 
seen, and he talked quite interestingly as follows : 

" 'The present invasion of the tree-destroying worms is not 
the first that has aflQicted us. The first visitation was about 
fifteen years ago. Again the pest came seven years ago, again 
two 3^ears later, and again last summer. I estimate that the 
damage done to trees by worms alone in St. Paul and Minne- 
apolis during the past year will amount to $100,000. At the 
request of Col. Van Slyke, Aid. CuUen, Aid. Melady and others^ 
I have just made a thorough examination of the trees in Central 
Park, and out of 193 trees find 83 seriously afiected, and others 
lightly by worms. I do not think this is due to negligence, but 
to ignorance on the part of the man who has the care of the 
trees. The trouble might have easily been averted. The trees 
are chiefly affected on the south side, and many of them are past 
saving. 

"'I have found thirteen different kinds of worms, belonging 
to a family of 360 varieties. The way in which these worms get 
into the trees is chiefly through the cracking of the bark by the 
alternate thawing and freezing at this season. The sun warms 
the south side of the tree by day and starts the sap. The frost 
freezes it at night. The sap — especially of maples, box elders 
and other sugar-bearing trees — flows into the opening and forms 
a jelly in which the beetles love to deposit their eggs. The eggs 
hatch and the grubs devour the sweet stuff", and then explore 
the tree looking for more. The same results may be produced 
by having the tree trimmed by an ignorant person, who will 
cut off a branch and leave the wound uncovered. A large num- 
ber of fine trees in this city have thus been ruined.' 

''blight IlSr FRUIT TREES. 

"When questioned about blight among fruit trees. Prof. Brown 
said : 

" 'I'll answer that question by stating that there has been a 
very great deal of trouble experienced from blight to apple trees. 
When I sold my farm at Fulda,Minn.,to Archbishop Ireland,there 
were seventy-five apple-bearing trees upon the place, and there 
was not a single tree among them that had a blighted limb. I 
now reside at No. 749 Gorman avenue, St. Paul, where you may 
see in flourishing condition ten apple trees that I have owned 
for three years. Among them are the Duchess, Transcendent 



horticulturists' handbook. 65 

and Siberian types. They bear apples every year, and they 
have never been affected by blight or worms since I became the 
owner of them. I would be happy to have them inspected by 
all interested persons. 

" 'There is another influence at work destroying the shade 
trees of these two cities, and especially have I noticed this in 
St. Paul where there never has been any excess of fertile earth. 
The influence of which I speak is lack of food and drink. That 
was the chief trouble with the trees in the capitol grounds, be- 
fore the tanks were placed at their roots. So great is the rever- 
ence felt for trees, you have noticed some grand old trunks tow- 
ering up through the stone sidewalks in certain localities? 
Those monarchs must all die unless something is done for them. 
The water cannot reach their roots, and there is no waj^ to get 
nutriment with the limestone underneath, the curbstone on the 
side and the Portland stone up above the roots. The building 
of sewers and the paving of streets has a tendency to drain off 
the moistiire necessary to the health of a shade tree, and the 
custom of continually mowing and raking the lawns shuts off the 
supply of Nature's ordinary fertilizers, i. e., decayed grass and 
leaves. Hence you see trees and sward so often looking sickly. 
Both trees and terraces should be watered and fertilized by un- 
derground tanks and perforated pipes. When the water is 
sprinkled upon the surface, the sun drinks it up faster than the 
earth ; especially is this true of watering trees. A bucket of 
water placed in a tank among the roots of a tree will do more 
good than several barrelsful poured upon the surface of the 
ground.' ''—St. Paul Globe, April 13, 1890. 




DEATH TO TREE PESTS. 



Prof. W. H. Brown, of St. Paul, professional shrub and tree 
forester, entomologist, and patentee of Brown's Irrigator and 
Fertilizer and Insect Exterminator, who has been operating in 
this part of the country for the past eight months, yesterday 
gave a practical illustration of his methods upon the fruit trees 
in the yard of ex-mayor Henry Yesler. It is a well-known fact 
that two of the greatest industries of this country, hop raising 
and fruit growing, are being threatened with destruction by lit- 
tle insects which cluster in thousands and tens of thousands 
upon the branches and leaves. Cherry and apple trees in par- 
ticular are effected by these insect pests, and prunes and hops 
are falling in for their share. If the insects are not promptly 
destroyed they will work great injury to the trees and eventually 
kill them. Yesterday Prof Brown demonstrated very clearly 
that he was a physician of trees, one who has made it a life study 
and treated infested trees in a manner that was logical and thor- 
ough. He exhibited to the reporter a number of twigs cut from 
Mr. Yesler's trees before he had used his exterminating wash. 
One cherry twig about 12 inches in length and as big as a man's 
little finger, was completely covered with little brown specks, 
oblong in form. These the professor called oyster shell scale, 
and when he lifted one up, about 6 or 8 little white specks were 
visible and these, the Professor said, were eggs. When hatched 
they become sap-sucking insects and would suck the very life 
blood out of the tree. On the twig mentioned, the professor said 
there was fully 10,000 insects, only waiting to develop before 
commencing their disastrous explorations of the tree. A twig 
and blossom from a prune tree was next exhibited, and, with the 
aid of a microscope thousands of little insects could be seen in 
the smallest conceivable space. These the professor pronounced 
to be hop aphis, which do such an incalculable amount of dam- 
age to trees and hops. They will sap the vines and tender 
branches, the blossoms and leaves of fruit trees, and play havoc 
generally with hops. Shrubs or snxy plants cannot hope to es- 
cape these insects, and the entire business of horticulture, fruit 
and hop raising, is threatened by them. The trees which the 
professor had operated on by spraying were next examined, and 



horticulturists' handbook. 67 

in every case the tree was wholly free from insects of any 
nature. The spray had done its work well, for every one of the 
little pests that the spray had come in contact with had taken a 
noiseless flight to insect heaven. One thing that attracted the 
reporter's notice was the fact that the delicate white blossoms of 
the apple trees, although they had hecome thoroughly satur- 
ated with the exterminating fluid, had not been injured in any 
wise, but looked brighter and more vigorous than before. Prof. 
Brown's patent irrigator and fertilizer is a uniquely constructed 
apparatus and is put together in such a logical manner that the 
theory is perfect in all its details. He feeds and doctors the tree 
from its roots, and, first finding out what a tree wants, sup- 
plies it. In every case success of a flattering nature has attended 
his efforts. 

Mr. Yesler, in speaking of the work of the professor, said : 
"Satisfied ? Well, that is a poor expression. I have never been 
so well pleased in all my life, and will be pleased to be able to 
recommend Prof. Brown to any one who has infested trees. He 
is one of the most thorough workmen I have ever seen, and does 
not make one single promise he does not fulfill. I have learned 
more about insects to-day than I ever knew before, and that 
knowledge is worth a great deal to me. Had not the professor 
taken hold of my fruit trees I am inclined to think they would 
have all died. He stands in the light of a public benefactor, for 
while he is following the business as a profession he is ridding 
the country of pests which number hundreds in variety and 
which have been steadily on the increase. With the professor's 
es^terminating fluid on hand, hop raisers and fault growers need 
not fear that their crops are going to be a discouraging failure. '^ 
— Seattle Post-InteUigeneer. 



WORKS LIKE A CHARM. 



Prof. W. H. Brown used his insect and aphis exterminator 
'^dth deadly effect to all insect life in the orchard of John F. 
Kincaid, during the early part of this week. On many of the 
trees the brandies were literally black with eggs before treat- 
ment, but not three per cent, of the insects or eggs remain. 
Mr. Kincaid is highly pleased with Prof. Brown's work and 
takes pleasure in urging all fruit growers who wish to save their 
trees and have fully developed fruit, to arrange to have them 
treated by Prof. Brown. W. C. Kincaid was present when the 
work was being done, and he unhesitatingly pronounces it a 
complete insect exterminator... — Sumner Herald, April 17, 1891. 



A PEST EXTERMINATOR IN CALIFORNIA. 



We published yesterday an interview with Prof. W. H. Brown, 
an expert horticulturist and entomologist of St. Paul, Minnesota, 
in regard to an insect exterminator of which he is the inventor. 
The subject is one of great importance to all fruit growers. Even 
in this country where the intelligently directed zeal of our or- 
chardists and orchard inspector, have kept the trees almost abso- 
lutely free from all kinds of pests, the new exterminator will be 
found worthy of careful consideration. A man with a well filled 
tank may have an abundant supply of water to put out a fire, 
and yet if he deals in inflammable goods he does not neglect to pay 
attention to every appliance, for extinguishing fires, that science 
can invent. So it is with our fruit growers, pests are compara- 
tively unknown in this valley, but none the less any mode of 
treatment that renders it easier to destroy them in case they 
should occur, is of interest to us. Prof, Brown speaks with 
authority on the subject, and his remedy comes well recom- 
mended, but it should have a full and thorough test in this 



horticulturists' handbook. 69< 

country, in order to see if the effect here will be as good as it was 
elsewhere. The test, moreover, should be made at this time 
while the fruit and leaves are on the trees, as it is only in this 
way that it can be determined whether in exterminating the 
pests it may not also injure the trees or the fruit. Most reme- 
dies for the pests are applied in the winter time when the trees 
are bare, and as a consequence, it is impossible to note what ef- 
fect they have upon the tree itself and upon the fruit that is to 
come. Such a test, of course, is not so conclusive as one made 
at this season, and for that reason our orchardists should sub- 
ject Prof. Brown's exterminator to a trial right away. The 
Professor was in this county some time ago, and his extermina- 
tor was at that time tried by Col. Hersej^ and by A. Block, both 
of whom report favorable results and unite in recommending it. 
This, of course, is a strong point in its favor, but a wider trial 
should be given it. Our leading fruit men should take up the 
question and test it thoroughly. We may not need anything of 
the sort very badly at this time, but if there is a remedy for 
pests that is readily applied and will not injure fruit or trees it 
will be well for our fruit growers to know it, for there may come 
a time when thej'- will need it badly. — San Jose {Col.) Daily Mer- 
cury, July 24, 1892. 




DISCOURSE ON INJURIOUS INSECTS. 



On Monday afternoon, March 12, Prof. Brown, of Seattle, 
Wash., delivered a lecture in the East Bountiful Tabernacle on 
the subject of insects injurious to fruit culture, etc. The pro- 
fessor spoke on the different kinds of insects that destroy our 
fruit trees and shrubbery. He said that there is a class of in- 
sects that live on the branches, stems, and roots of trees while 
there are other classes that live on the leaves of the trees. The 
speaker explained that the leaves of a tree are the lungs of the 
tree, and that each leaf contained a countless number of small 
openings or pores from which these insects suck the life blood of 
the tree. One cause of fruit and berries falling to the ground 
before they are ripe, the professor claimed, was the insects get- 
ing on the stems of the fruit and sucking the sap from the same. 
The speaker had gathered a number of twigs from the orchards 
in the neighborhood, which he showed to members of the audi- 
ence under a microscope. It was found that they were fairly 
alive with these destructive little pests. He thought that it was 
on account of our neglectfulness that we had so many wormy 
apples. The professor said that these insects should be destroyed 
by using Insect Exterminator. He recommended that the rough 
bark on the apple trees be removed now and the tree sprayed, 
and that the tree be sprayed again just as the blossoms are fall- 
ing off. If we would treat our trees after this manner the 
speaker thought we again could raise sound apples. Prof. 
Brown said that if California did not pay more attention to the 
subject of destroying insects than the people of Utah had done, 
that the fruit growing industry of that state would not be in as 
|)rosperous a condition as it is now. He said that we should ex- 
port instead of import fruit ; that our climate and soil were suit- 
able to make fruit growing in Utah the leading industry. 

The people in the various settlements in the county would 
do well to invite Prof. Brown to talk to them on the above 
mentioned subject. — Davis County (Utah) Clipper, March 12, 1894. 



THE HOP PEST. 



lu a recent talk with Wm. H. Brown, a prominent liorti- 
<}ulturist, he had the following to say of the hop aphis: 

''Ever since the hop aphis put in an appearance in our state 
there has been a great deal of speculation as regards its being 
the hop aphis that has done so mnch damage to the hop crop in 
Europe, also at times destrojdng and laying waste the hop in- 
dustry of New York and Wisconsin and other portions of the 
United States and having had no small experience with this pest 
in the east. Therefore on my arrival in this state three years 
ago, being informed that the hop aphis had put in its appearance 
in the hop yards of White river valley, I immediately com- 
menced a thorough investigation. 

"I found that a partial loss of the hop crop that year had 
caused some of the hopgrowers great alarm as to their true 
identity, some having written to prof. C. V. Riley, United States 
entomologist, on the subject. The professor, in reply, gave them 
a short sketch of the life, history and habits of this pest. In 
Mr. Riley's reply he stated that this aphis confined its winter 
deposit to the prune and plum. This statement I concluded to 
be a fact, so far as their deposit in the east is concerned, but so 
far as their deposit in the Sound country is concerned I differ, 
from the fact that on a prolonged investigation lasting over 
three months, I failed to find an aphis deposit on prune or 
plum. Had I found a deposit on this class of trees then there 
miight have arisen a question in the minds of the many entomol- 
ogists who may be able to classify the different species of this 
multifarious family. 

''Therefore, when I was found to difffer with men whose 
knowledge and experience stands second to none in the United 
States, and perhaps in the world, I soon began to realize that I 
was in the midst of a hornet's nest, some of the hopgrowers go- 
ing so far as to ask me would I dare to presume to question 
Prof. Riley's decision on this question. 

"My answer to this was: I am a citizen of the United States 
and fought for the liberties that I enjoyed, one of which was a 
right to a difference of opinion when thoroughly satisfied that I 
"was in the right. 



72 horticulturists' handbook. 

"I have just returned from a two week's visit in the orchards 
of Whatcom county, where I had the pleasure of meeting many- 
old friends from Minnesota. I visited many of the prominent 
orchardists in the vicinity of Custer, one of whom is Judge 
Pratt, who is also the owner of a beautiful 15-acre fruit ranch,, 
situated in the city that stands second to none for push and en- 
terprise on this coast (the c'ty of Seattle). 

''In visiting Mr. C. H. Sotolienberg I found that this gentle- 
man stands among the many who rank among the first in the 
great army of fruit growers (1500) who are destined to make 
Whatcom county one of the greatest fruit growing counties on 
the Pacific coast. 

"I visited many orchards and one hop ranch in the vicinity 
of Blaine, Custer and Ferndale, and made a thoi-ough examina- 
tion for the hop apbis, but failed to find an aphis deposit on 
either prune or plum trees. I found the deposit of red spider^ 
plum, curculio, oyster shell scale, black fungus, bark borers,, 
central wood borers and the peach curl leaf. 

''Stopping at Orilla I visited Mr. Nelson. I found that this 
gentleman had finished pruning the limbs, piled in bunches, 
which gave me a splendid opportunity to find an aphis deposit, 
but on careful examination I failed to find an aphis egg on prune 
or plum. 

"I then visited Pat Hayes. I found that Mr. Hayes had 
about finished pruning a ten acre prune orchard. I found in 
this fine orchard two scrub plum trees that had been planted by 
an Indian. Those trees were infested with an aphis deposit, the 
rest of the orchard being free from this pest as far as I could see. 

"I don't wish to be understood as saying that there is no such 
deposit on the prune or plum, I simply say that the deposit, if 
any, is not enough to justify the hop-growers in thinking that 
to clear his prunes or plums is all he need do to get rid of the 
hop louse. This theory in my opinion is all bosh. The ques- 
tion may be asked if there is so scarce a winter deposit on the 
prune and plum, how is it that both prune and plum are infested 
with aphis (larvae)? 

"This question carries with it as much mystery as that of the 
hop aphis. My opinion is that the perfect fly makes her de- 
posit on the foliage and not on the twig, the same as the hop 
aphis. 

"Another question may be asked : Will this argument hold 
good east of the mountains on the Pacific slope ? This is a ques- 
tion in my mind, from the fact that their winters are difierent 
from ours, they being like eastern winters, and from the fact 



horticulturists' handbook. 73 

that while at Boise City, Idaho, I examined a large young prune 
orchard that is infested with an aphis that is covered with a 
scanty covering of white silky down, so that when brought in 
contact with water the water rolls off like water from a duck's 
back. The under side of the leaf affected is covered with a very 
fine silken spider-like web. This is a genuine plum aphis, but 
it has just a little more downy covering, than I ever saw on a 
prune aphis before, and it is my opinion that this insect will 
confine its deposit to the prune and plum alone. Let me say to 
the readers of this article in conclusion, what I know about in- 
sects would make a small book and what I don't know would 
make a large one. Nevertheless, I am not done with this in- 
vestigation as regards the hop aphis and insects injurious to the 
fruit industry. 

"I will solve this question if it takes me all summer. I leave 
Monday at 9 p. m. for Salt Lake City to investigate some kind 
of blight. When satisfied what species of blight this is, the 
readers of this article will hear from me again." — Seattle News, 
Feb. 21st, 1894. 




LIFE AND HABITS OF ANTS. 



WRITTEN BY REQUEST. 

Ants are generally found in colonies, very rarely in pairs„ 
They are of three distinct sexes, namely — males, females, and 
neuters. The neuters, or soldiers, do all the work and also de- 
fend the nest from enemies. The males and females constitute 
but a small portion of the inhabitants of the hill, and are pro- 
vided with bright glistening wings, whereas the workers have 
no wings. The workers are not so large as the males and the 
females are larger than the males. S»me species of the neuters- 
and females are provided with a sting, others that have no sting 
are armed with a little sack, situated in the abdomen, which is 
filled with a foul-smelling and poisonous fluid, which they squirt 
at the offender. This fluid has been known to kill small ani- 
mals, and dogs have been known to rush from the place yelling. 
The habitation of the ant is a very curious and ingenious affair^ 
many of them displaying great intelligence. The majority live 
in the ground and gradually rise to the surface, extending up as- 
high as 15 or 20 feet in some countries, and others (the red and 
horse ant) construct their hills till they are about the size of a 
small hay-cock. The hill is usually originated by two or three 
queens (like the bee), who lay in the spring and continue all sum- 
mer, after which the males and females leave the nest in great 
swarms, the male dying soon after, seeming to have completed" 
his mission. 

These little enemies of the garden are very active and might 
serve to teach many of us the value of utilizing every moment^ 
many of which we often waste. Solomon says, "Look to the^ 
ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise." The 
winged ants are short lived, coming in autumn and dying when 
the cold weather commences, except a very few that are left tO" 
carry on their work the next season. I think this is one of the- 



horticulturists' handbook, 75. 

ways in which the Creator shows His wisdom in preventing 
them from overrunning the country and doing more damage 
than they do. 

When the ants are at work they keep up a continual hum- 
ming, but it is so faint that myriads of them do not exceed the 
hum of one wasp. They are very warlike among themselves, 
and two colonies will sometimes have a battle, when on exam- 
ing the ground around it will appear like a miniature human 
battle-field, the killed and wounded lying around in great pro- 
fusion, and the insects running around in all directions as though 
attending to the wounded soldiers. Sometimes the heads of the 
enemies will be severed from the body and fastened so tightly to 
the victor that the jaws cannot be gotten open and so they have 
to carry around with them the bloody evidences of the contest. 
Some of the heads have life long after they are separated from 
the body, and bite viciouslj'^ at the enemy. 

There is a great deal of kidnapping practised among the ants, 
the red ant being especially noted for this. It will often carry 
away the pupa of other species, tend them as carefully as their 
own until full grown, when they are forced to labor. Some of 
the females that escape death from their enemies or by the ele- 
ments in the fall start new colonies, while others are taken pos- 
session oi by the neuters of the hill, near which they happen to 
be, and some think they go in search of them. When the neu- 
ters capture the female they rob them of their wings and they 
are forced to the habitation where they are fed and treated, like 
the queen bee, with apparent respect. There are also some ant 
hills that unlike the bees, contain numerous females who are 
treated thus and also carry on the important work of laying 
eggs. They are always deprived of their wings, sometimes by 
the neuters and not rarelj^ by the female herself who finds them 
useless after she has produced her eggs. They also collect great 
numbers of the honey dew aphis and tend them for the sake of 
the honey which the aphis produces, and will even go so far as 
to protect it from a parasitic fly which attacks it, and in turn 
the aphis seems willing to yield the product of its labors to its 
captors. The ants are very fond of this honey and will climb. 



76 horticulturists' handbook. 

trees in order to get at an aphis. They wait for drops to fall, 
and will, to make them fall, pat each side of the abdomen in 
turn quickly, then when the honey is ejected will go to another* 
This process has been compared to milking cows. The aphis is 
kept in quantities by ants, sufl&cient to supply the inhabitants 
of the kill, and are tended to with as much care as their own 
kind. This is so wonderful that it may be doubted by some, 
but nevertheless it has been observed and recorded by the most 
populkr and careful scientists. 

The egg of the ant is so small that to see it well one must be 
provided with a glass. The mother seems to take no thought 
about them, but drops them wherever she happens to be, and 
the neuters or workers, some of whom seem to be in continual 
attendance upon her, seize them as soon as dropped, moisten 
them with the tongue and pile them up in one part of the nest, all 
the time watching them and removing them from one part of the 
apartment to the other, probably keeping them at the right 
temperature or to keep them in just the dampness. It takes but 
a few days for the larvae to be produced, a nd then it is when 
the workers show their intelligence and tenderness in the care 
of the baby ants. The wonderful loving-kindness of the Creator 
is here shown by furnishing the workers with a fluid suitable for 
the young ants, which the neuters emit into the mouths of the 
larvae. They are also very careful to keep the brood clean by 
continually licking them. A great deal of labor is expended in 
taking them to the surface when the weather is suitable, and 
back again when it rains or grows cold. When an ant's nest is 
broken into, small while kernels resembling grains of barley are 
often seen being carried to places of safety, and are often thought 
to be the food which the ant lays up for winter use, but which is 
no less than pupa. 

The pupa is enveloped in a silken cocoon, and unlike other 
insects requires help to extricate themselves. This help is usually 
given by the workers. The food of the ants (most always pro- 
vided by the workers) is sometimes animal and sometimes vege- 
table. A very few specimens of ants store up grain and seeds, 
and when they do the germ is somehow destroyed or eaten by 



horticulturist's handbook. 77 

the ants so that it will not grow. Some ants carry chips, sticks 
and other things to build their nest with. Ants all seem to 
have a weakness for sugar and are guided by a fine sense of 
smell. This is why the housewife so often loses her temper 
when a swarm of these interesting little insects invade her 
pantry, then it is in vain she hears their cute habits discussed. 
At this time she would take more interest in learning how to rid 
herself of the pest. 

Ants that live on animal food are sometimes useful in destroy 
ing other insects and devouring the dead bodies of small ani- 
mals. Some have been known (in tropical countries) to strip 
the flesh off the bones of the larger animals and even human be- 
ings are sometimes in danger. A certain species in the island of 
Grenada, that made its appearance about 100 years ago, made its 
nest under the roots of plants and the sugar cane were.rendered 
almost useless in consequence. They came from the hills in 
torrents, and plantations, paths, and miles and miles of roads 
were filled with them. Rats, mice and reptiles fell prey to 
their ravages. Streams of water were turned on them to no 
effect. Millions of fresh recruits were arriving every minute, 
and the drowned formed a dam sufficient for the newly arriving 
ants to climb over. Fire was then tried but with equal useless- 
ness, for they rushed into the flames in such vast numbers as to 
put the fire out, Rewards were offered to any one who would 
suggest a successful exterminator, but to no pui'pose. They 
ruled the land until a hunicane, which occurred in 1780, tore 
up the sugar canes and exposed the ant hills to the deluge, thus 
ridding the island of this pest. 

The ant lion is about the worst enemy witli which the ant has 
to contend. It digs a hole in the sand and when the ant comes 
along, makes a disturbance which arouses its curiosity and go- 
ing to the scene of commotion, the lion lashes the sand and so 
bewilders the ant that it falls into the pitfall and is soon grasped 
in the jaws of the lion. 

The foregoing are only ^a very few thoughts, comparativel 3^ 
speaking, on this very interesting family of ants. Let me say in 
concluding that although this insect is very destructive, still it 
has, as have all of God's creation, a work to do and is in a cer- 
tain degree useful. Ant baths are given for gout and paralysis 
by boiling crushed ants and immersing the affected limb in it. 

Nellie E. Brown. 



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PART II. 



Xtie Insects TThLat Destroy. 



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CODLIN MOTH. 



In May or June these little gray moths make their appear- 
ance in the orchards, and as soon as the fruit forms, they de- 
posit an egg on the blossom end of the fruit, and when the egg 
hatches, the larvse enters the apple. The Bible informs us that 
Adam took the first bite of this somewhat seductive fruit, per- 
suaded by Eve, but intelligent students of horticulture some- 
times feel disposed to doubt the statement and assert that the 
codlin moth beat the record, and the worm got the first bite. 
This white worm, after eating its way through the fruit, leaves 
it, spins a cocoon and assumes a chrysalis state. It requires three 
weeks for the larvEC to mature, and fifteen days for the moth to 
issue from the chrysalis state. The apples are again stocked with 
eggs and the process of hatching repeated. The last generation 
remain in the cocoons until spring, when the same round is be- 
gun, the fruit rendered worthless and the horticulturist deprived 
of his fruit crop by the ravages of the pest. The codlin moth 
is conceded by all horticulturists to be one of the worst insects 
with which they have to contend. They are early and late 
workers, beginning with early spring and ending with the sum- 
mer, 

TREATMENT FOR CODLIN MOTH. 

The arsenical compound should be used on codlin moth. 
This compound differs from the other compounds from the fact 
that there are four ounces of London purple added to 100 lbs. of 
the compound, making it somewhat poisonous, but not enough 
to make it dangerous to those who handle it. Neither is it dan- 
gerous to eat the fruit after it has been sprayed. The first 
spraying should be done when the blossoms begin ,to fall. In 
from seven to ten days repeat the same operation, and it may be 
necessary to repeat it once or twice more in from four- 
teen to twenty days, should the moth still be present. This will 



horticulturist's handbook. 



invariably insure a good crop of fruit. Dissolve one pound of 
the compound in from 8 to 10 gallons of water for repeated 
spraying on tlie codlin moth, as above described. 



CANKER OR MEASURING WORM. 



When full grown the measuring worm is about one inch long, 
of ash color, black and yellow. They belong to the loopers or 
measuring worm, both names being derived from their peculiar 
method of locomotion. They are called drop worms also, from 
their habit of swinging from limbs by a thread. They are the 
product of a moth of gray ash color which comes from the ground 
in the spring. These moths deposit eggs in the trunks of trees, 
often to the number of hundreds, and when the leaves are com- 
ing out the larvse make their appearance and immediately 
begin to feed upon the foliage, completely stripping the tree. 
They attack fruit and ornamental trees as well, and after they 
have destroyed foliage, they burrow into the ground and in an 
earthen cocoon change to pupae, from which they emerge again 
in the spring in the shape of a moth. 

REMEDY. 

Spray for this insect as soon as the worms appear^on the trees. 
Spray with arsenical compound, one pound to eight gallons of 
water. If this prescription is not strong enough to kill, make it 
stronger, if too strong make it weaker, put it on to kill whether 
it effects the foliage or not. Dig lime and guano into the ground 
around the base of the tree. Dissolve at the rate of four pounds 
of arsenical compound to 40 gallons of water, add four pounds of 
Babbit's lye, then saturate the ground around to a depth of eight 
inches. Spray trees in fall and winter as for scale. Do thorough 
work and you will get rid of them. 



FALL WEB WORM. 



In habit these insects are in some respects similar to the tent 
caterpillar, but are not so destructive in their habits. They 
feed upon all kinds of foliage. They come from the beautiful 
white moths, and are hatched in August. The worms are about 
an inch long when fully grown. They are striped with yellow 
and black and dotted with orange. They descend from the tree 
in October and disappear in the ground. 

REMEDY. 

No. 1 arsenical compound, as for codlin moth, and No. 2 as 
soon as the webs are to be seen. Cut and burn, and remember 
one thing, that to destroy a butterfly is to destroy hundreds of 
your worst enemies 98 times out of 100. 



TENT CATERPILLAR. 



In June and July the tent caterpillars make their appearance. 
The moths of this species are brown, the female being a little 
larger than the male, with two light bands running across the 
fore wings. They are attracted by lights and fly into houses 
during the warm summer evenings. The eggs are laid iu clus- 
ters about twigs, covered with glue and impervious to water. 
The clusters are composed of about 400 eggs, which hatch just as 
the leaves of the apple and cherry trees are coming out. On 
these trees they weave their tents, and feed upon the foliage, 
generally destroying it. By the middle of June the worms at- 
tain their full size — about two inches in length, variously striped 

6 



86 horticulturists' handbook. 

with yellow, blue and white. Their appetite is voracious, and 
after stripping the trees, they disperse, seeking hiding places 
where they form their cocoons undisturbed. They pupate 
almost immediately and in two weeks reappear as moths, with 
the same round of perpetuation and mischief. 

REMEDY. 

Use same remedy as given for the apple tree tent caterpillar. 



WHITE SPOTTED TUSSOCK MOTH. 



This insect is more familiar to the cities than the country, by 
reason of its being found on the shade trees and shrubbery of 
the cities ; yet it is not confined to cities, nor is its ravages con- 
fined to shade trees alone. It is cream yellow in color, some- 
times changing to white, with brownish spots and brush-like 
hairs and red head. Tbere are also two long plumes rising from* 
the head. Their cocoons are usually found in the rough bark of 
the trees. 

REMEDY. 

Use arsenical compound same as for codlin moth, during the 
fall and winter. The eggs may be seen in little white clusters. 
They may be destroyed in a great measure by cleaning off all 
rough bark and using medicine as directed for oyster shell scale- 



CABBAGE MOTH. 



The cabbage worm comes from the white rape butterfly, and 
mainly confine themselves to the destruction of cabbage. The 
butterflies come in two broods — the first in May, the second in 
August. 

REMEDY. 

When you see this pretty white moth flying over your cab- 
bage you can soon begin to look for worms on your cabbage and 
the leaves riddled with holes. For this insect use at the rate of 
one pound of No. 14 compound to 8 gallons of soft water (warm) 
and apply with spray pump. Saturate well and you will soon 
have dead cabbage worms. Repeat as often as the worms put 
in their appearance. Keep them killed off this year and you 
will have none next year, that is, if your neighbor serves them 
likewise. 



CABBAGE LOUSE, OR APHIS. 

REMEDY. 

Keep a careful watch in your cabbage patch, and as soon as 
you see the louse, commence spraying. Use No. 14 compound, 
one pound to 10 gallons of water. Melt in hot water, then add 
cold. Two or three sprayings will keep your cabbages clear 
from this pest. 



APPLE TREE BORER. 



There are two or more species of beetles that have done and 
<:i,re doing great damage to fruit trees all over the portions of the 
United States where 1 have traveled. The flat headed borer 
cuts its way between the bark and the wood, commencing on the 
south and southwest side of the tree. This species will ruin a tree 
in a very short time. The round-headed borer, is what is known 
as "the central wood borer", differing from the one first men- 
tioned, from the fact that it has a round head. The eggs are laid 
in May, June and July, the flat head deposits her eggs about 18 
inches above the base, while the round heads or central wood 
borers, deposit close to the base and work down the first year ; 
the second year they change their course and work upward, 
boring their way into the wood as thoungh for pastime, continu- 
ing their explorations until the third year, when they cOme out 
of their house of luxury ; after which they soon become perfect 
beetles. They soon co-habit, deposit their eggs, and by so doing 
perfect their mission, being a great round of mischief. 

REMEDY. 

Scrape off all rough bark, mix one pound of arsenical com- 
pound to eight gallons of hot water, go over the stock and large 
limbs with a scrub brush. After this has been performed, take 
a pailful of the wash and add enough lime to make the tree look 
white, apply with a broom, spray or otherwise. Where the 
roots are affected apply same remedy to the roots as for peach 
borers. Apply remedy as soon as spring opens ; again about the 
middle of June. If spraying for other insects saturate roots well 
at any time and the labor will not be in vain. 



PEACH TREE BORER. 



In July, August and as late as September, the peach tree 
borers make their appearance as a moth. They resemble wasps, 
being long and slender. They lay their eggs at the base of trees, 
and soon after larvse will be found, and they will commence bor- 
ing in the sapwood and back beneath the surface. The larvae 
works till about the first of July, when pupae encased in a 
cocoon composed of chip dust, earth and gum. The female is 
larger and darker than the male, with yellow band across the 
abdomen. The males are about an inch in length. They soon 
destroy the trees if not removed. Their presence in the trees is 
easily detected by the gum oozing out of the places they have 
been working. 

REMEDY. 

The presence of tree borers is made known by the gum oozing 
out around the knots and limbs of peach, plum and cherry trees. 

For this tree pest use the same remedy as for woolly 
aphis, except the use of manure. A handful of coarse salt 
should be scattered at the base of the tree after the other work 
has been done. This work should be done in the fall or spring. 
Spray twice more during the spring or summer, using plenty of 
lime on the body and around the base of the tree. Care should 
be taken not to spray the foliage with lime. 



ELM TREE BEETLE. 



The elm tree beetles have become very destructive to trees 
recently, more especially in the Eastern cities. The trees af- 
flicted become sickly and present a blighted appearance. 

REMEDY. 

Use No. 14 as for aphis. 



ROSE BEETLE. 



The rose beetle, or bug, is one of the worst pests encountered 
by the gardener. It attacks and devours leaves, buds and blos- 
soms. Not confining itself to roses, it reaches out for peaches, 
grapes, cherries, vegetables, and what it cannot eat it blasts. 
The rose beetle is green and has a conical projection at the ex- 
tremity of the body between the honey tubes, and the honey 
tubes are long. There are other varieties of the rose pest that 
are red, and still another — the rose hopper — that is white. The 
latter feeds exclusively on the leaves of the rose. They pupate, 
then again return in the hopper state after ten days. A third 
brood of the pests is produced in one season. 

REMEDY. 

Spray No. 14 at the rate of 10 gallons of water to one of the 
compound. Spray with arsenical compound, if not in bloom. 
Scattering hardwood ashes on bushes while the dew is on is a 
great preventative. Slacked lime will answer in place of ashes. 



SQUASH BUGS. 



This is an enemy of the garden familiar to all, It hibernates 
during the winter, but is on hand ready for business when the 
vines of the squash, pumpkins, melons and cucumbers are up. 
They hide at night in the ground and reappear in day time to 
feed upon the vines. 

REMEDY. 

Use N^o. 14. Use one pound to nine gallons of hot water ; let 
cool and spray when necessary. Arsenical compound is better 
if you are not going to use the vegetation for some time. 



WIRE WORMS. 



The wire worms are destructive to corn, grass and potatoes. 
They are the larvae of the elater, or spring beetles, and usually 
feed on rotten wood. 

REMEDY. 

Use arsenical compound as for cut worms. 



LEAF CRUMPLERS. 



The presence of these pests on fruit trees is made known by 
the leaves presenting a brown and crumpled appearance. The 
leaves and limbs are drawn together and tied by the silken 
webs spun by the pests. The worm itself is housed within this 
nest, where it reproduces and feeds upon the foliage. 

REMEDY. 

Use same remedy as for codlin moth. 



POTATO BUGS. 



Potato bugs, while well known in Colorado and the East, are 
comparatively unknown on the Pacific Coast. It grows with the 
growth of the potato vine, appearing when the vine first comes 
out of the ground. The female produces about a thousand eggs 
on the underside of the leaves, which soon hatch, and the young 
larvae prove as destructive to the vines as the older members of 
the family. Fifteen days sees them fully developed. 

REMEDY. 

Use arsenical compound at the rate of 1 pound to 8 gallons 
of water ; dissolve in 3 gallons of hot water. Stir with old 
broom till thoroughly mixed and dissolved, then add five gallons 
cold water. Spray the vines thoroughly. 



THRIPS. 

The thrip is a minute insect hardly visible to the naked eye, 
varying in color from whitish yellow to brown. They are very 
active. They confine themselves to plants that are in shady 
places and neglected. 

REMEDY. 

Same remedy as used for green aphis. 



THE PLUM GOUGER. 



Prof. C. P. Gillett, of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Sta- 
tion, has made a complete study of this insect, of which the fol- 
lowing report will be found of interest to plum growers : 

The plum gouger is a western insect and is rarely if ever found 
farther east than Lake Michigan. 

This insect in its mature state is a beetle, somewhat resembl- 
ing, and frequently mistaken for the plum curculio. It varies- 
from 7-32 to 8-32 of an inch in length. The wing covers are 
leaden gray in color and are more or less sprinkled with small 
black and brown spots. The head and throax are ochre-yellow^ 
in color and the snout and legs are reddish brown and are cov- 
ered with short hairs. In fresh specimens there is a yellowish 
brown median line along the back on the borders of the wing 
covers of the same color as the throax. The rostrum or snout i& 
slender, very slightly curved and about as long as the head and 
throax, or about 1 1-2 of an inch. 

Spring appearance. — The beetle appears in the spring much 
earlier than the curculio. They feed on the buds and flowers. 
I have found by bringing the beetles into the laboratory and 
keeping them on fresh plum twigs that, since the flowers began 
to open, they feed entirely upon the ovaries of the buds and 
blossoms which they reach by puncturing the calyx. Six beetles 
in 24 hours punctured the calyces and ate the ovaries of 65 buds 
and blossoms. 

As to the proportion of gougers in the fruit to the number of 
mature beetles developed I can do no better than give the 
counts made on a native tree September 6th, when nearly all of 
the beetles had escaped. There were on the tree and ground 
2,541 plums, 795 of which bore 894 gouger marks and the num- 
ber of exits was 234. If this tree was a fair test, and I judge 
from partial counts on many other trees that it was, it indicates 



94 horticulturists' handbook. 

that 26 out of every 100 gouger marks will produce mature 
insects. 

REMEDY. 

Treat as for plum curculio. 



CUT WORMS. 



The common brown cut worm is met with in every garden, 
and are familiar to everyone who has delved in the ground. 
They are one of the most destructive worms, to plants and vege- 
tables. They live in the ground, but leave their places of con- 
cealment in the night to prey upon and devour vegetation. 
They are particularly partial to corn, cabbage and tobacco. 

REMEDY. 

Where cut worms have been hard on a field or garden, after 
preparing the field for crop, and where green food has been made 
scarce by the plowing of the land, a very successful way to ex- 
terminate is to cut green grass or weeds and scatter over the 
ground. Use at the rate of one pound of arsenical compound to 
ten gallons of hot water. Add to this liquid one ounce of 
London purple, then spray field ; saturate the ground as well as 
grass, and you will get rid of them to a great extent. After the 
field has been sprayed with this compound, spray again with 
good results at intervals, using no London purple. Use ashes 
around plants, then saturate the hill ; this will lessen their rav- 
ages. When you see the moth flying around, kill them, and you 
will kill what would have been followed by hundreds. 



ROSE SAW-FLY. 



The rose saw-fly is still another pest that is proving very de- 
structive to the cultivation of roses. The fly is a shiny, black 
insect, appearing in the latter part of May and up to the middle 
of June, the female laying its eggs in incisions made by its saw 
into the skin of the leaf. The young, which appear in ten days, 
are greenish, almost transparent slugs, which are found in great 
numbers feeding on the foliage, causing it to look seared and 
burned. 

REMEDY. 

For taw-fly and all worms on rose bushes, spray with No. 10. 
Dissolve 1 pound in 4 gallons of boiling water. Stir till all the 
compound is dissolved. Add 6 gallons of cold water. Spray 
bushes with force pump at or about sundown. Repeat when- 
ever these insects are to be found. 



CHERRY AND PEAR TREE SLUG 



These insects appear as a small shining black fly, one fourth 
of an inch long, in early and late summer months. They deposit 
their eggs on the under side of the leaves. The larvae are brown 
and tapering, with twenty feet or pedals. They are covered 
with an olive colored slime, hence the name slug. The larvae or 
worms feed upon the cuticle of the leaf, causing it to turn brown. 
In three weeks from the time of deposit, the slugs mature and 
pass down the tree into the earth, where they pupate, the flies 
of the first brood appearing in May and June. They are very 
destructive in their habits. 

REMEDY. 

Take air slacked lime, stand on the windward side of the tree, 
scatter the lime by means of a small shovel, or otherwise, so that 



96 horticulturists' handbook. 

the wind may carry the lime dust so as to light on the leaves of 
the tree infested. Hardwood ashes will answer in place of the 
lime. No. 10 used as for rose saw fly is a sure remedy. 



GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT WORM. 



About the first of May a yellow fly, with black head, similar 
in appearance and in size to the common house fly, makes its 
appearance. It begins laying its white, transparent eggs on the 
under side of the leaves, which hatch in about four days green 
tweenty legged worms, which begin to feed on the leaves. They 
are voracious and grow rapidly, attaining three-fourths of an 
inch in length, when they go under the leaves or into the earth, 
or remain attached to the trees and spin their cocoons. The fly 
appears again in June or July, lays its eggs for a second brood of 
worms, which again devour the foliage. 

REMEDY. 

Treat as for cabbage worms. 



APPLE MAGGOT. 



This pest confines its ravages mainly to fall fruit, but fre- 
quently attacks winter apples, causing them to fall ofl" the trees 
in great numbers. The same remedy used in the destruction of 
the codlin moth will apply to this insect, although some horti- 
culturists think that by feeding the fruit to the hogs, they at the 
same time destroy the next seasons crop of worms. It is the loss 
of one year's crop of fruit. 

REMEDY. 

Spray as for codlin moth. 



PLUM CURCULIO. 



The plum curculio is a little brown beetle, which hibernates 
during the winter months, and is ready for active business in the 
early spring. It is active mainly in the night, hiding in the day 
under clods and dirt. As soon as the fruit is set it penetrates it 
sufficiently to insert its egg, the egg laying continuing until mid- 
summer, when it remains in the tree, feeding upon the ripening- 
fruit. The eggs soon hatch and the young larvae continue to 
bore into the fruit where the eggs were deposited. They re- 
semble maggots and grow to maturity rapidly, the fruit attacked 
fall prematurely. They attack plum, cherry, apricot, peach 
and apple trees, but confine their greatest depredations to the 
stone fruits. The fruit attacked becomes gnarled and unfit for 
domestic use. Hoticulturists have found that by alternating 
rows of plum trees with rows of apples, the curculio will 
confine its operations to the plums, thus letting the apples grow 
to perfection, and giving their attention mainly to the plums. 

REMEDY. 

I have found that spraying with kerosene emulsion was good 
for the destruction of this insect. I have also found that Lon- 
don purple was of some good as a destroyer. Therefore I can 
well recommend my arsenical compound, from the fact that it is 
composed of both London purple and kerosene, with other insect 
exterminators equally as good. Dissolve one pound of arsenical 
compound to five gallons of hot water; stir with old broom till 
all is dissolved then add five gallons water, (soft water is best). 
For first spraying, spray as soon as you can see the blossom buds. 
For vsecond spraying as soon as blossoms fall, and for third, 
spraying when the fruit is as large as small ch»^rries. After this 
work is done you will have killed all sap-sucking insects as well 
as curculio. 



OLOTHES MOTHS. 



These insects are quite small and in color a pinkish yellow, 
with long narrow wings somewhat fringed with a velvety fuse. 
When these pretty little moths put in an appearance in your 
house, look out for your clothes, as their eggs are laid in all 
kinds of furs, woolen goods and clothing. After from 12 to 16 days 
the eggs hatch and are a small caterpillar of a pale color with 
16 legs^ which cuts its way through anything and everything it 
comes in contact with in the form of furs and woolen goods, 
doing damage in their line in the United States to the amount of 
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. 

The most successsful way to exterminate them is to take equal 
parts of Scotch snuff and cayenne pepper, mix, and dust your 
clothes, trunks and around the edge of your carpets. You had 
better set your husband's brother, or hired men, at this work, 
as it has a tendency to give one a dose of sneezing, but it is sure 
death to^the insects. You may look for this moth any time in 
early spring, and to make sure, keep on the look out. 



GREEN APHIS. 



On the twigs of apple trees and at the base of the buds, very 
small, black, shiny eggs are deposited by the green aphis, or 
apple tree aphis. These eggs can be found in the winter, and 
can be destroyed at this season more readilJ^ When the apple 
buds begin to expand in the spring, the eggs produce small lice 
which immediately take possession of the swelling buds and 
tender leaves, inserting their beaks in them and feeding on 
the juice. They are very prolific, reaching maturity in ten days 



horticulturists' handbook. 99 

and reproducing their species in equally short time. They in- 
crease so rapidly that they are enabled to take possession of a 
tree as fast as it leaves, buds and blooms. With the advance of 
the season they form wings and fly away to form new colonies 
and prey upon the life of other trees. When trees are infested 
with the green aphis, the leaves become curled back, the tips 
pressing against the twigs, forming a covering for the pests, pro- 
tecting them from the weather. When cold weather approaches, 
male as well as female aphis are produced and a stock of eggs is 
deposited for another year's pestiferous crop. 

REMEDY. 

For winter — It is well, owing to the fact that the aphis de- 
posits its eggs on the tender young branches, to cut back the tips 
of the limbs. Burn all that is cut oflf. Spray the tree with No. 
14 compound, nine gallons of water to one of the compound ; 
add lime as for borers. It is hard to get the medicine too strong 
for winter u.se. 

For summer spraying. — If you know that j'ou have had aphis 
the previous year, you are safe to spray in the spring ; do so for 
the first time as soon as the leaves are the size of a mouse's ear. 
Watch the tender twigs, examine closely, and when you find 
lice, you are safe in spraying. When the leaves curl up, this is 
a sure sign of aphis. Spray with N"o. 14 compound, 9 to 10 
gallons to one of the compound. 



WOOLLY APHIS. 



One of the most dangerous insects to apple trees in the United 
States, is what is commonly termed the woollj^ aphis. The color 
of the aphis is dark brown, the body being covered with white 
down, presenting a cottony appearance. It makes its appear- 
ance on all portions of the tree, but attacks principally the roots^ 
branches and trunks. The leaves and fruit are generallj' un- 
molested by this pestiferous and industrious insect. Occasion- 
ally in the summer the mature insects crawl into the branches 



100 horticulturist's handbook. 

of the trees, where they remain and form col®nies, in which 
form they are known as the woolly aphis or apple aphis. It is 
in this form that they attack the trunk and limbs of the trees. 
They are easily detected by the cottony bunches or clusters. 
There preference is for sweet bearing fruit trees, but they do not 
confine themselves to any one variety, their ravages extending 
to all varieties. Unmolested until the end of the season, they 
take possession ot the infected trees, covering body and limbs 
until they present the appearance of having received a coat of 
whitewash. Investigation of the little clusters or patches will 
reveal the presence of the female aphis and her young. When 
the female has attained full growth, it is about a tenth of an inch 
in length, with oval form, black head and feet and dusky legs. 
The abdomen is yellow. In the summer the insects are devoid 
of wings, and the young are produced alive. Among the wing- 
less specimens there is a small sprinkling endowed with small 
wings, but these have but little of the woolly substance upon 
them. They are dark and plump. The wings are double, the 
front portion being nearly twice the length of the hind narrow 
wings. In the fall season the eggs are deposited for the produc- 
tion of another generation of the pests in the spring. The in- 
sects have hardy constitutions, and endure the coldest seasons. 
The eggs can be seen only by the aid of a magnifying glass of 
considerable power. They are usuallj'^ deposited in the crevices 
of the barji near the surface of the ground. If suckers are per- 
mitted to grow, the eggs are also found in these. When the 
young first come out they are covered with fine down, appear- 
ing like small specks of mold on the trees. They increase in 
size as the season advances, the fine coating becoming more 
apparent with increasing age. The sap of the tree furnishes old 
and young with nourishment. The punctures they make in the 
limbs saps the life of the tree, the limbs becoming gnarly and 
weak, while the leaves turn yellow and fall. Their ravages fre- 
quently become so great as to cause the death of the tree. 

The enemies of the woolly aphis are spiders, ladybirds and 
syrphus flies. The spiders catch them in their webs and destroy 
them by thousands. 



horticulturist's handbook. 101 

REMEDY. 

If the trees are infested with woolly aphis, it is necessary to 
dig around the trunks at the base, and follow the prescription 
that is given in the treatment for old trees. 



CABBAGE APHIS. 



Keep a careful watch in your cabbage patch and as soon as you 
see the aphis, a green insect, commence spraying, using No. 1 
compound, one pound to 14 gallons of water. Melt the com- 
pound in five gallons of hot water, then add nine gallons of cold 
water. Two or three sprayings will keep the cabbage clear of 
the pests. 



PEACH TREE APHIS- 



When fully grown, the winged female aphis in about an eighth 
of an inch long, with black back and dull green abdomen. The 
wingless female is a rusty red color, with the antenna, legs and 
honey tubes of greenish tinge, while the winged males are bright 
yellow, streaked witli brown, and the honey tubes are black. 
The peach aphis begins upon the young peach leaves almost as 
soon as the buds open, and continue their work during the 
greater portion of the season, unless dastroyed by insects or pre- 
pared emulsions. These insects crowd together under the peach 
leaves and sap the juices, causing them to thicken and curl. 
The leaves also become discolored and fall off prematurely, 

REMEDY. 

Spray as for green aphis. See directions for green aphia. 

7 



CHERRY TREE APHIS. 



This is a black insect that makes its appearance in the spring 
on the leaves of cherry trees almost as soon as the leaves begin 
to expand. They are hatched from eggs that are deposited on 
the branches in the fall. They multiply rapidly and are ex- 
tremely voracious, sapping the life of the tree and injuring the 
fruit. In the latter part of the fall, males are produced and eggs 
are deposited at the base of the buds and bark fissures for a new 
spring brood. 

REMEDY. 

Use the same remedy as for green aphis, although it may be 
necessary to use the emulsion a little stronger than for green 
aphis, be sure to put the medicine on to kill. Use No. 14. 



PLUM TREE APHIS. 



These insects when first hatched in the spring, are of a white 
color, with a tinge of green, but when they mature the green be- 
comes deeper, while some become black with pale green abdo- 
men. They are similar in appearance to the apple aphis and 
multiply their species with as great rapidity. They are found 
on the leaves of plum and prune trees in the early spring, and 
as rapidly as the leaves unfold they are taken possession of by 
these insects. 

REMEDY. 

This aphis is somewhat harder to kill, owing to the fact that 
they form a kind of downy substance on the leaves, and from the 
fact that they seem to lay flat on the leaves, seemingly holding 
fast to them. Therefore it is necessary to put the medicine on 
with considerable force. Use No. 14, as directed for green aphis. 



THE HOP LOUSE. 



The hop louse (Phorodon humuli) is one of the most troublesome 
insects that the hop industr}^ of the country has to contend with. 
Many experiments and large amounts of money are expended 
yearly in endeavors to eradicate them from the fields. This in- 
sect lays its eggs in the fall. The eggs are glossy black and 
exceedingly small, and are hatched in the spring. They produce 
several generations in the course of the season, being as prolific 
as they are destructive. The female can produce over a hun- 
dred young, and each generation can reproduce in eight or ten 
days, so that they multiplj^ by millions. It is estimated that 
ten generations are produced in the course of one season, and if 
left to their own course, will destroy, during the season, the 
labor of thousands of honest hop producers. 

REMEDY. 

Use No. 14 compound, one pound to from 10 to 12 gallons 
water. Dissolve in five gallons of hot water. Stir till all is dis- 
solved, then add cold water. Spray as often as necessary to 
keep hops free from the insects. 



CHICKEN LICE AND MITES. 



If hens are infested, dissolve one pound of No, 14 compound in 
four gallons of hot water and stir till it is thoroughly mixed, then 
add five gallons of cold water. Take the infected fowls by the 
bills with one hand and by the feet with the other and douse 
them head first till thoroughly saturated. After this work has 
been performed, dissolve one pound of the compound in eight gal- 
lons of water, as above described, with the exception of the use 



104 * horticulturists' handbook, 

of cold water, it should be used hot aud enough lime put in to 
make a good white-wash, which should be applied to the coop, 
inside aud out. Repeat this two or three times a year. 



CATTLE LICE. 



The same prescription as that prescribed for hens can be used 
©n cattle or sheep. It destroys lice on cattle and scab on sheep. 



REMEDY FOR MILDEW- 



For mildew on grape vines and gooseberries, spray with win- 
ter wash and before the leaves come out, saturate the roots well. 
Spray with summer wash (No. 14, one pound to 10 gallons of 
water) immediately after the blossoms have fallen, and again 
when the leaves are full grown. 



PLUM ROT. 



The plum rot is caused by a fungus disease, which is destruc- 
tive to all stone fruits. Very frequently the entire product of a 
tree is destroyed by this fungus, but it can very easily and 
cheaply be prevented by spraying with the Bordeaux mixture as 
well as the black rot of the plum and cherry, which disease is 
quite prevalent in many States. By adding London purple or 
Paris green to the above the curulico can be destroyed at the 
same spraying. 

REMEDY. 

Treat with the copperaa compound, added to No. 14. 



LEAF SPOT DISEASE OF THE PLUM AND CHERRY. 



This disease causes injury to the foliage and at times inflicts 
considerable injury to both the plum and cherry, causing the 
leaves to drop prematurely, sometimes as early as the first of 
August, showing a spotted appearance. The same application 
as is used, Bordeaux mixture, to prevent plum rot will also pre- 
vent the leaf blight above referred to, and insure the trees a 
more healthy and thriftj^ growth. 

REMEDY. 

Treat with copperas compound, added to No" 14, 



POWDERLY MILDEW OF THE CHERRY. 



I have already in description of powderly mildew of the grape 
explained the peculiar character of this parasite, which is also 
injurious to the cherry, but can be easily prevented by spraying 
with the insect exterminator, No. 14. 



SAN JOSE SCALE. 



This is one of the most pernicious insects that has afflicted the 
Pacific coast. It not only attacks the fruit trees, but destroys 
the forest and ornamental trees as well. Its name is derived 
from the fact of it having first been discovered in the orchardi- 
of San Jose, where it was very destructive to fruit orchards. 
The full grown scale is about one sixteenth of an inch in length. 
The eggs are yellow, and the worms a pale yellow and very 



106 horticulturists' handbook. 

active, scarcely visible to the naked eye. They multiply rapidly, 
producing three broods in one season, and their presence on the 
trees is made known by the inner lining of the bark turning a 
reddish color. The fruit also becomes spotted in similiar man- 
ner, and shrinks and cracks open. The first hatching is in May, 
the^second in July and the third in September. 

REMEDY. 

For winter treatment, cut back as far as the tree will bear, 
scrape all rough bark off the tree, then treat as for woolly aphis. 
Apply medicine to every part of the tree ; don't miss a limb or 
twig. 

For summer treatment, spray as for codlin moth. This is the 
worst scale that is to be found in the whole catalogue of the 
scale family, and great care should be taken in destroying them 
as the lease of life given to a tree or shrub is five years, after 
being once infested, if the scale is not destroyed. 



OYSTER SHELL SCALE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS BARK 

LOUSE. 



This is one of the worst scale insects that the eastern orchard- 
ists have to contend with, and was in all probability introduced 
into this country from Europe over 100 years ago. They don't 
confine their work of destruction to the fruit tree or shrub alone, 
as they are to be found on the hawthorne, and in fact I have 
found them on nearly all of the ornamental trees in some of the 
finest yards of Portland, Oregon. They are a sap-sucking in- 
sect ; they live by inserting their beak into the bark of the ten- 
der growths, becoming so numerous as to obscure the bark from 
sight. In the fall these insects become simply a sack of very 
small eggs, and when in this condition their life mission is over. 
They fasten themselves to the twig or limb and become immov- 
able, so far as the insect is concerned. In this state the insect 



horticulturists' handbook. 107 

dies and dries away, leaving the shell covering full of eggs 
(30-60) this shell covering making a perfect protection for the 
germ of spring. 

REMEDY. 

Spray in the fall or winter as for woolly aphis, using consider- 
able lime. Trim as for old trees. Spray in the summer as soon 
as you can see the young scale in the form of specks on the 
branches. Spray three times during the season , 10 days between. 
Use No. 14 for -summer and the arsenical compound for winter, 
as prescribed for woolly aphis. 



PHYLLOXERA. 



This insect is ^omewhat allied to the aphis and is subterranean 
in its nature. It commenced its ravages in the vineyards of 
France in about 1865, and since that time has baffled the wisdom 
of the most skillful horticulturists, to get rid of the disease. 
It has laid waste many of the finest vineyards, and, I am sorry 
to say, has put in its appearance in many portions of the United 
States, as I have experimented iu its cure, both in California 
and Utah. 

REMEDY. 

If your vines are badly diseased, dig them up and burn them. 
Don't leave a vestige of rubbish in the ground, burn it likewise. 
If you conclude to try a perfect cure, which may be done if the 
vines are not too far gone, cut back the vines and then remove 
the earth around the base; scrape off all fungus growth as much 
as possible. After which treat with the same treatment as for 
woolly aphis, also scattering lime as for tomato blight. 



BROWN APRICOT SCALE. 



' Adult Female. — Color, light brown. In shape resembles Z> 
hesperidum, but is much larger and more convex. In the center 
of the dorsum is a prominent shining circular protuberance^ 
fi-om which radiate a number of small ridges ; these are more- 
noticeable upon the posterior half of the scale. From the con- 
vex center to the anus is a low carina, also noticeable in front. 

Length, from .20 to .27 of an inch ; width, from .12 to .15 of 
an inch ; height, from .05 to .10 of an inch. Antennge tapering 
to the point, seven-jointed ; joints 1 and 3 subequal ; joint 2 
nearly three times as long as joint 1 ; joint 4 slightly longer than 
joints 5 and 6 ; joint 7 is nearly same as joint 3, and tapers to a 
point ; a few bristles at the tip and upon each joint. 

Eggs. — These are smaller and lighter colored than L. olew. 

Larvce. — Are long, oval, light yellow, darker down the center^ 
and can be distinguished from the larvae of Olece in not having 
the four reddish brown marks upon the dorsum. 

I have seen these insects so thick on the apricot trees in Cali- 
fornia that they obscured the bark from sight, and the young 
larvae were so thick on the leaves that a pin point could hardly 
be placed on the leaf without touching one of these little pests. 
They sap the very life out of the tree. 

REMEDY. 

Use same remedy as for San Jose scale. 




THE RED SPIDER. 



This pest is one of the fruit grower's worst enemies. It has^ 
when full grown, the characteristic eight legs of spiders and is 
very small, only one sixty-fourth of an inch long. Its head par- 
takes of a yellowish tinge. The female does not deposit her 
eggs, but when full grown attaches herself to a leaf and dies. 
Her skin protecting her eggs are then broken open by the male,, 
exposing them, which soon change from colorless globules to a 
bright red. In size the egg is about the one hundred and fiftieth 
of an inch in diameter. The males may be seen busily remov- 
ing the dead skin of the female, thus exposing the eggs to the 
sunlight. The young spider has only six legs, but in a few days 
sheds its skin and becomes eight-legged. The red spider de- 
vours the skin of leaves, buds and flowers, and covers them with 
a fine web, causing them to wither and die. When seriously 
infested the tree appears a dusky red, so numerous are the 
spiders. They begin their work on the soft portions of the tree, 
but finally spread all over. The wind blows them from tree to 
tree. One tree may be infested in still weather, but a constant 
wind will carry them in a stream across the orchard. They 
don't confine their ravages to the orchard alone ; they sap the 
very life out of all kinds of floral shrubs and plants, being one of 
the florist's worst enemies. This insect is to be found scattered 
broadcast over this nation, as I have found them from the At- 
lantic to the Pacific. I have found as high as 50 trees dead in 
an orchard of from six to eight acres, not only in one state but 
many, and the owners did not seem to realize what was the 
trouble. 

REMEDY. 

For winter spraying, spray as for woolly aphis, as their eggs 
are hard to get rid of. For summer treatment spray as for green 
aphis. 



110 horticulturists' handbook. 

Some of the most destructive insects tliat the fruit grower has 
to contend with have been so well described by Prof. Alexander 
Oraw of C5alifornia, that I cannot do better than quote him. 
The descriptions of the following insects are from a report of his 
to the State Board of Horticulture of California, while the reme- 
dies are my own. 



FLORIDA RED SCALE. 



This is a dark red scale, infesting citrus trees in Florida, set- 
tling on the wood, leaves and fruit. The scale of the female is 
<}ircular, with the exuviae nearly central. The position of the 
first skin is indicated bj'^ a nipple-like prominence, which, in 
fresh specimens, is white, and is the remains of a mass of cottony 
excretions, beneath which the first skin is shed. The part cov- 
ering the second skin is light red, and the remainder is much 
darker, ranging from dark reddish brown to black ; the thin 
part of the margin is gray. When full grown it measures .08 of 
an inch in diameter. The body of the female is nearly circular, 
and the color is white, with yellowish spots. The eggs are a 
pale yellow. 

The scale of the male is much smaller than that of the female; 
the posterior side is prolonged into a thin flap, which is gray in 
<3olor. The male is light orange-yellow in color, resembling the 
male of A. aurantii, but being smaller, having shorter antennae. 

REMEDY. 

Same treatment as for San Jose scale. 



FROSTED S€ALE. 



Description. — Adult female, pale brownish, thinly covered with 
a whitish powder, which does not conceal the ground color. 
Body oblong in outline, very convex above, not distinctly cari- 
nate, the surface very uneven. Margins nearly perpendicular ; 
dimensions as follows : Largest specimens, length, .28 of an 
inch ; width, a trifle over .20 of an inch ; height, .12 of an inch. 
Smallest full-grown specimen, length, .16 of an inch ; width, .12 
of an inch ; height, .08 of an inch. Antennae much thickest at 
the base, 7-jointed ; joint 6 the shortest, then 5, then 1 and 2, 
which are subequal in length ; joints 3, 4, and 7 are also sub- 
equal in length, each nearlj^ twice as long as 6 ; joint 7 tapers to 
the tip, and is furnished with a style, being about three fourths 
as long as this joint ; anal cleft and lobes normal. The eggs are 
of the usual ovoid form of the Leeaniums, and of a yellowish 
white color, and are laid in May, June, and July. 

Larvce. — A few weeks after the eggs are deposited, the larvse 
hatch out from under the old scale ; they are of a pale color, 
having a distinct dorsal ridge extending the entire length of the 
body, and with many smaller ones (about twenty-four on each 
side) extending from it to the margin, some of them being di- 
vided into two branches. 

The larvte as soon as hatched locate upon the leaves ; their 
development is slow until they take up their position upon the 
under side of the young shoots, where they remain throughout 
the winter, and, in fact, the balance of their lives. Upon the 
ascent of the sap in the spring they grow rapidly, and in April 
they assume the characteristic powdery or frosted appearance 
peculiar to this species. 

REMEDY. 

Exterminate as prescribed for San Jose scale. 



CHAFF SCALE. 



Scale of female is elongate, more or less oval, of a transparent 
brownish yellow color, and whitish near the border. The exu- 
viae are rounded oval in form, and are equal to about three- 
sevenths of the length of the fully formed scale. The scale of 
the male is light brown, with the exuviae black. 

Exterminate with the same treatment as for oyster shell scale. 



LEMON SCALE. 



This species differs from Aspidiotus nerii b}^ the caudal lobes, 
being more detached and more apparent, and by the plates being 
larger, and more particularly by the more elongated form of the 
last abdominal segment. The scale of the female is circular, 
yellowish white, with exuviae central and yellow ; that of the 
male is more elongated. 

REMEDY. 

Treat as for San Jose scale. 



PURPLE SCALE. 



This species can be very easily confounded with Mytilaspis po- 
morum, being very much like it in shape, but it is only found on 
-citrus trees. 

The scale of the female is long, slightly curved, and widened 
posteriorly. It is brown, with a purple tinge ; the exuviae brown, 
with delicate margin. Ventral scale is well developed and of a 
dirty white color. It is a single piece attached to the lower edge 



horticulturists' handbook. lis 

of the scale, and is more or less incomplete posteriorly. Length 
of scale, .12 of an inch. The color of the female is pale yellow. 
The eggs are white and placed irregularly under the scale. 

The scale of the male is usually straight ; of the same color as 
that of the female, sometimes almost black ; the larval skin light 
yellow. For about one quarter of the length from the posterior 
end the scale is thin, forming a hinge which allows the posterior 
part of it to be lifted when the male emerges. Length, .06 of 
;an inch, 

REMEDY. 

Exterminate with same treatment as for San Jose scale. 



RED S€ALE OF THE ORANGE. 



This is a circular scale commonly known as the red scale, in- 
festing citrus trees. This species resembles Aspidiotus fieus in 
shape, size, and the nipple-like prominence. The color varies 
from light greenish yellow to reddish brown. The central third 
is as dark, and usually darker, than the remainder of the scale, 
and when the female is fully grown the peculiar reniform body 
is discernible through the scale, causing the darker part of the 
outer two-thirds of the scale to appear as a broken ring. The 
female is light yellow in color in the adolescent stages, becoming 
brownish as it reaches maturity. When fully developed the 
thorax extends backwards in a large rounded lobe on each side, 
projecting beyond the extremity of the abdomen and giving the 
body a reniform shape. 

The scale of the male is smaller than that of the female, and 
the posterior side is prolonged into a thin flap. The part which 
covers the larval skin is often lighter than the remainder of the 
scale. The male is light yellow, with the thoracic band brown, 
and eyes purplish black. 

The eggs have never been seen excepting in the female's body, 
but larvae having been found under the scale, it is supposed that 
the female is viviparous. 

REMEDY. 

Treat same as for San Jose scale. 



m^^Wmm Wmm •♦X ««|E&# #♦♦ #»^ #*^ #•2 #»x m* # 



PART III 



Remedies for the Insects That Destroy. 



»**-^m*m W^9**^* 



■«c^^»^ 



UWmr**i 



PROK. BROWN'S INSKCTICIIDKS. 



While it has been fully demonstrated that the "Prof. W. H. 
Brown's Insecticides" are the best, nevertheless I am aware of 
the fact that there are many others that have been recommended 
and used with good results. The most of which have been recom- 
mended either by the Horticultural department at Washington 
or the Provincial government at Ottawa, Canada, chiefly by 
Prof. C. V. Riley, Prof. Comstock and many other eminent men, 
and by State Boards of 'New York, California, Oregon and many 
others, also British Columbia. Therefore I have selected from 
the many receipts recommended and approved by all and have 
given them a worthy place in this department, hoping that if 
one proves a failure, that another, then another can be tried 
until the one that does the best Avork for the least monej^ shall 
be found and used by the horticulturist, for which I feel greatly 
indebted to those who have so kindly contributed. 



FORMULA FOR MAKING PROF. BROWN'S INSECTICIDES 
IN SOLID FORM. 



[Copyrighted 1894.] 



Formula No, 10. — Tobacco and Quassia Extracts. 

Take two pounds of tobacco waste (or cheap tobacco) and 
three pounds of quassia (Oregon grape or wild sage will do), 
put into a boiler and boil till all strength is extracted. Boil the 
liquid down to two gallons of the solution. Pour liquid into a 
jar, label as "Receipt No. 10— Tobacco and Quassia Extract." 
Set this to one side and keep it corked. 

Quassia and tobacco diluted one gallon to seven gallons of 
water is a very good rose aphis exterminator. It also may be 
used with good results on hot-house and green-house plants. 



118 horticulturists' handbook. 

Formula No, 11. — Fish Oil, (Whale Oil or Dog-fish Oil, 
Dog-fish Oil Best.) 

How to Make Twenty Pounds of Fish Oil Soap. 

Take boiling water 2 gals. 

Add to the boiling water, costic soda 5 lbs. 

Then add Babbits' or Lewis' lye 5 lbs. 

Pour the lye into the liquid slowly as the lye will cause the 
liquid to boil over if using small kettle. Take off the fire. Stir 
till all costic and lye have been dissolved, then set on a slow 
lire and let it come to a boil. Then mix one gallon fish oil and 
4ive pounds of lard together so as to be hot enough to pour in 
•tme body, and while stirring, slowly pour the lard and fish oil 
i^into the boiling liquid. Keep stirring till the whole becomes 
like froth. Stir till the froth settles and your soap thickens, 
•looking, when done, like thick corn meal mush. Then your 
soap is made. Empty, then label and keep covered. 

P. S. — All lye may be used in the making of Fish-oil Soap, 
bat the use of costic soda and lye combined is better. 

Dissolve one pound of Fish-oil Soap in 10 gallons of hot water. 
Add to this two quarts of Quassia and Tobacco Compound. This 
is good for the extermination of red spider and other sap-suck- 
ing insects. Make your own soap and thus save money. 



FORMULA NO. 13.-H0W TO MAKE CREOSOTE COMPOUND (OR CARBOLIC 
ACID, CREOSOTE IS BEST.) 

Take cold lard .5 lbs 

Put lard into kettle, add to the lard, creosote (carbolic 

acid will do) 8 lbs. 

Stir till the lard and creosote comes to a boil. 

Add to the lard and creosote, boiling water 2 qts. 

Stir thoroughly and add to this Babbits' or Lewis' lye 2 lbs. 

,Stir, boiling by a slow fire, till this compound becomes like 
thick soap. Empty the emulsion into a jar, keg or barreL 
Label and keep covered ; then use as necessity may require. 



horticulturist's handbook. 119 

formula no. 13.-h0w to make sulphur compound. 

Take dry flour of sulphur (put into iron kettle 4 lbs. 

Then add to dry sulphur, Babbits' or Lewis' powdered lye.. 6 Iba. 
Stir sulphur and lye together thoroughly after which pour 

into dry sulphur and lye, boiling water 2 qts. 

Before placing on the fire, stir slowly as the heat of the lye 
will cause the compound to boil over. After which set it on a 
slow fire and boil down till it becomes like a thick gruel. 
Empty, label and keep covered. 

To make sulphur compound and arsenical compound for the 
destruction of the codlin moth, plum gouger, canker worm and 
other leaf and fruit eatiag insects, add 1 oz. red arsenic to dry 
sulphur and lye, mixing thoroughly together before adding water. 

CAUTION. 

Don't breathe the fumes while making arsenical compound. 



How TO Make Fifty Pounds of Insecticide, No. 14. 

[This formula. No. 14, is the one over all others for which Prof. Brown 
claims, and justly, such excellence. Too much care cannot be taken in its 
preparation.] 

Caution. 
Be sure and have one thing fixed in your memory and that is, 
this Insecticide is finally made out of all the other formulas, 
namely, Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13, also kerosene. For instance, the 
first thing to do is to make No. 10, label and set aside. Next 
make No. 11, label and set aside. Next make No. 12, label and 
set aside. Next make No. 13, label and set aside. Then make 
from all these. Insect Exterminator No. 14, as directed in form- 
ula and you can't fail. 



The first thing to be done is to put into the kettle, tobacco 

and quassia extract (See Formula No. 10) 2 gals. 

Let these extracts come to a boil on a slow fire. 
Formula No. 11. 

Add whale oil soap 20 lbs. 

Stir till all the soap is dissolved in the extract. 



120 horticulturists' handbook. 

Formula No. 12. 

Add creosote compound '....A Ibs. 

Stir till all is dissolved. 

Formula jSTo. 13, 

Sulphur compound 4 ll»s. 

Stir on a slow fire till all is thoroughly mixed. 

Formula. 

Add kerosene oil (crude petroleum is best) ..'J gals. 

Stir till the whole compound becomes a very thick soap ; t«^- 
move the compound while warm into a keg or jar ; keep covered 
tightly and use as necessity may require. 



COPPER COMPOUND (BLUE VITR0L)-T0 BE ADDED TO NO. 14, FOR FUXrS UB 

DISEASES ONLY. 

Dissolve in two quarts of hot water, blue vitrol I lb. 

Dissolve in two quarts of hot water, soda ash ^ lb. 

After both are dissolved mix them together by srirring at 
least 30 minutes. Set aside and let settle over night. The cop- 
per will have settled. Pour oflf the clear water leaviug- the thick 
substance in the bottom undisturbed. Pour on water. 1 gallon. 
Stir 30 minutes and let stand still till all the thick substance 
has settled and the water has become clear. Pour ott'ol^^ar 
water as before. The thick substance that has settled to the 
bottom, take. In making sulphur compound, add tliis one 
pound, as directed in sulphur compound, which can be u.-ed in 
making No. 14 for the destruction of all fungus diseases. 

The process of compounding the Copper and Sulpluir Com- 
pound is the best known to chemistry, so as to get the copper;us 
and sulphur to mix with water, and can be used in compound- 
ing any insecticide where copperas and sulphur are upe<I. 



C 3i!. BUGrARDUS, chemist fok the 

Anr^AYER AND Chemist. Seattle Board of Health 

60 Columbia St. city chemist. 



Seattle, Wash., August 21, 1894. 
Prof. W.. M. Brown, Seattle, Wash.: 

Dk AK 8iK — I have carefully examined the formulas of your 
••Prof. W. H. Brown's Insecticides" and find them to be com- 
poursded upon thoroughly scientific principles for obtaining the 
diflferent ingredients in the form of a solution or emulsion to 
gain the best results, especially the sulphur, arsenic and copper. 

Respectfully, 

C. E, BOGARDUS, 



GROW YOUR OWN TOBACCO. 



Tohac<!0 being one of the chief ingredients used in the "Prof. 
Browu'is Insecticide" therefore I would advise the growing of 
tobacco by everj^ farmer, hop grower, gardener and florist, there 
being no uecessitj'^ for consumer to buj'' tobacco from the fact that 
it doe!*iit require a good quality of tobacco for this purpose; 
therefore the tobacco used can be grown as easily as any other 
plant gi own in the garden. I recommend that the consumer 
plant his own tobacco and save money by so doing. 



OTHER REjNIEDIES RECOIVLNIENDED. 



1— ROOT INSECT. 



One ounce of copperas to a pailful of water is sometimes 
effective in destroying root insects. 



2— KEROSENE EMULSION FOR SMALL QUANTITIES. 



Soft soap, 1 quart, or hard soap — preferably whale oil soap — 
^ pound ; 2 quarts hot water ; 1 pint kerosene. Stir until all are 
permanently mixed, and then dilute with water to one-half or 
one-third strength. A good way to make the emulsion perma- 
nent is to pump the mixture back into the receptacle several 
times. Makes a permanent emulsion with either hard or soft 
water. 



3— TO DESTROY CUT WORMS. 



Put a teaspoouful of Paris green or London purple in two- 
gallons of water and sprinkle handfuls of grass, green sods or 
other vegetation, which can then be scattered throughout the 
patch, walking crossways of the harrow marks. By doing this 
towards evening after the last harrowing, during the night thfr 
cut worms that are deprived of their food will be out looking for 
fresh pasture, and will appropriate of the prepared bait, the 
smallest particle of the poison of which will kill. If the worms 
are very troublesome, the remedy' can be repeated, it being 
easily applied. 

SHIELDING THE STEM. 

By encircling each plant that is set with a piece of tar paper,. 



HORTICDLTUHISTS' HANDBOOK. 12S 

or even other paper, the ravages of the worm may be prevented. 
The paper should extend upwards several inches from a point 
just beneath the surface of the soil. 

HUNTING AND KILLING. 

By closely examining the surface of the soil in the morning, ia 
the vicinity of their spoils, through drooping plants or other- 
wise their place of retreat may usually be discovered, and the 
worms killed. 



4— FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF PLANT LICE. 



FORMULAS GROUPED AS FOLLOWS. 

Tobacco — Used in the following ways : 

1. Tobacco water, used with whale oil soap. 

2. Dust. 

3. Fumes. Burn dampened tobacco stems. 

4. Nicotyl. Steep tobacco stems in water and evaporate 
the water. 

6. Tea. or common decoction. Boil the stems or dust 
thoroughly, and strain. Then add cold water until the de- 
coction contains 2 gallons of liquid to 1 pound of tobacco.. 



5— FOR FUNGUS. 



CARBONATE OF COPPER IN SUSPENSION. 

"When the carbonate is to be used in suspension, instead of 
adding the ammonia to the sediment, add water until the whole 
quantit}^ is made up to 6 quarts. Stir this thoroughly until the 
sediment is completely suspended (entirely mixed thoroughout) 
and pour the thick liquid into a suitable jar, when it will be 
ready for use Before using shake the contents thoroughly, so 
that all the sediment may be evenly distributed in the water. 
Pour out a quart of the thick fluid and mix with 25 gallons of 
water. . . . 



6 -FOR BLACK SCALE ON OLIVE TREES. 

Directions for making emulsion : 

Kerosene oil (150 degrees test) .5 gallons 

Common laundry soap 1^ pounds 

Water 2^ gallons 

After the above is emulsified, use by diluting one gallon of the 

mixture to six and one half gallons of water, and add two and 

one half pounds of home-made soap, dissolved in a little boiling 

water, to the solution (all the mixing is done with hot water), 

-and apply at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 



7— SUMMER WASH FOR SAN JOSE SCALE. 

Whale-oil soap (80 per cent strength) 20 pounds 

Sulphur 3 pounds 

Caustic soda (98 per cent) ....1 pound 

Commercial potash 1 pound 

Water to make 100 gallons. 

Place sulphur, caustic soda, and potash together in about two 
gallons of water, and boil for at least one hour, or until thor- 
oughly dissolved. Dissolve the soap by boiling in water ; mix 
the two and boil for a short time ; use the solution hot. 

To accomplish the best results this wash should be used soon 
after the scales have hatched. From the middle of May until 
the beginning of July the great hatching takes place. Care- 
fully examine the trees about that time, and after you are satis- 
fied all are hatched apply the wash. It is very important to use 
a good quality of soap in the preparation of this wash. To test 
the soap spread five ounces of it on a tin plate and place it on 
lop of a pot of boiling water. The loss in drying will indicate 
the amount of water in the soap. Thus, if one ounce is lost in 
43rying, the soap would be of 80 per cent strength. 



8— WOOLLY APHIS 



Root form. — Dress liberally with ashes, especially in moist lo- 
calities, OF use gas lime, about one and one half shovelfuls around 
each tree in such a manner that it will not come in contact with 
the bark of the tree. 

Branch form. — Brush with kerosene emulsion or rosin solution, 
or spray. 



9— FOR APHIS ON PRUNE TREES. 

Caustic soda (98 per cent) 1 x>ound 

Rosin .J 6 pounds 

Water 40 gallons 

Prepare as directed in rosin wash for winter use. 



10— WINTER WASH FOR ALL KINDS OF SCALE AND FUNCTUS. 

The following formula and directions, if properly carried out, 
will produce an effective solution : 

Unslacked lime 40 pounds 

Sulphur 20 pounds 

Stock salt 15 pounds 

Water to make 60 gallons. 

Directions. — Place ten pounds of lime and twenty pounds of 
sulphur in a boiler with twenty gallons of water, and boil over a 
brisk fire for not less than one hour and a half, or until the sul- 
phur is thoroughly dissolved. When this takes place the mix- 
ture will be an amber color. Next place in a cask thirty pounds 
of unslacked lime, pouring over it enough hot water to thor- 
oughly slack it, and while it is boiling add the fifteen pounds of 
salt. When thiB is dissolved add to the lime and sulphur in the 



126 horticulturists' handbook. 

boiler and boil for half an hour longer, when the necessary 
amount of water to make the 60 gallons should be added. This 
is an exoellent winter wash for fruit trees. 



11— PYRETHUM OR BUHACH. 



FOR CURRENT WORMS ETC. 

A tablespoonful of the pure powder to two gallons of water, 
applying it by sprinkling with a watering pot, or better yet, by 
force with a pump. Here, as in all cases where we use liquids 
to destroy insects, especially if, as in this case, it kills by contact, 
we must apply with great force, so that the liquid will spatter 
everywhere and so touch everj^ insect. 



12— KEROSENE EMULSION FOR ROOT INSECTS. 



Professor Forbes has recommended that the roots of nursery 
trees be "puddled" with the kerosene emulsion before sending 
out, and that if the lice are seen upon the trunks, these be also 
treated with the emulsion, applying with a brush, sponge or 
cloth. 



13— PARIS GREEN REMEDY FOR CODLIN MOTH. 



For spraying apple or pear trees, use one pound of Paris green 
to two hundred gallons of water. It is best to first mix the poi- 
son with a small quantity of water, making a thick batter, and 
then dilute the latter and add to the reservoir or spray tank. 
By the addition of about two pounds of lime, which has been 
slacked and strained, there will be no danger of burning the foli- 
age. Mix the whole thoroughly, and spray soon after the fruit 
has set, while yet in an upright position. At least two applica- 
tions should be made, the second in about ten days. It would 



horticulturists' handbook, 127 

be still better to make three or four applications, at later inter- 
vals. For smaller quantities use a teaspoonful of Paris green to 
a pailful of water. 

For early apples, do not spray later than the latter part of 
June. Very little benefit, if any, is received from spraying much 
later, even for late apples, as the egg, if laid in the side of the 
apple, is protected, and the moth is not reached by the spray in 
time. 

The fallen fruit should be promptly gathered and destroyed. 
It has been recommended that hogs be kept in the orchard for 
the purpose of devouring such fruit, and where they can be so 
kept without injury to the trees or to the other crops, they will, 
no doubt, prove useful. 



14— SUMMER REMEDY FOR PEARS AND APPLES. 

Caustic soda (98 per cent) 10 pounds 

Potash 10 pounds 

Tallow 40 pounds 

Eosin 40 pounds 

Directions. — First — Dissolve the potash and soda in ten gal- 
lons of water. When dissolved place the whole amount in the 
barrel (fifty gallon measure). 

Second — Dissolve the tallow and rosin together. When dis- 
solved add the same to the potash and soda in the barrel, and 
stir well for five minutes or so. Leave standing for about two 
hours, then fill up with water, stirring well as every bucket of 
water goes in. Use the following day ; one pound to the gallon 
of water ; apply warm. 



15— FOR PEACH ROOT BORER. 



Remove the earth at the base of the tree and wrap up the 
trunk with stout paraffine paper, and pile up against the paper 
air-elacked lime or ashes. 



10— BORDEAUX MIXTURE FOR FUNDUS DISEASES AND SCALE 

INSECTS. 



(a) Dissolve sixteen pounds of sulphate of copper in twenty- 
two gallons of water ; in another vessel slake thirty pounds of 
lime in six gallons of water. When the latter mixture has 
cooled pour it slowly into the copper solution, taking care to 
mix the fluids thoroughlj^ by constant stirring. 

(jb) Dissolve six pounds of sulphate of copper in sixteen gal- 
lons of water, and slake four pounds of fresh lime in six gallons 
of water. When cool mix the solutions as above. 

This formula requires frosh lime. Air-slaked lime, or a paste 
made bj^ allowing freshly slaked lime to settle, contains a large 
percentage of water ; consequently, if they should be combined 
in the proportions indicated, there would not be sufficient lime 
to decompose the copper. 



17— SAN JOSE SCALE. SU3IMER REMEDY FOR PEACHES. 

Potash 14 pounds 

Caustic soda (98 per cent) 8 pounds 

Lime, nnslacked 5 pounds 

Fish oil, polar or seal 10 gallons 

Directions. — First — Dissolve the soda and potash by placing 
them together in about ten or twelve gallons of water. 

Second — Slack the lime in the barrel in two gallons of water ; 
then add the fish oil to the lime and stir well until the lime and 
the oil have turned to a thick batter ; then add the soda and 
potash, water boiling hot, and stir well with a dasher for five 
minutes or more ; then leave standing for about four or six hours; 
then fill up with cold water. Do not pour in all the water at 
once, but about two buckets at a time ; stir well as the two firsffc 
buckets of water go in. to prevent lumps. Use the foUowifig 



horticulturist's handbook. 129 

day. Apply cold, oue pound to the gallon of water. In dissolv- 
ing it, do not boil ; but weigh the amount to be used, place in a 
barrel, and on top of it pour hot water, about one bucket to 
every 100 pounds of material. After pouring in the hot water, 
stir lively with a dasher, until it is entirely dissolved ; then re- 
duce with cold water until sufficiently thin to pass through the 
strainer; then place in the tank and fill up with water; stir 
well, and it is ready for use ; apply cold. 



18- REMEDY FOR APHIS. 



Coal tar fumes. — Burn rags, coated with coal tar, attached to 
a pole. 



19— SIMPLE SOLUTION SULPHATE OF COPPER. 



Dissolve one pound of pure sulphate of copper in twenty-five 
gallons of water. While this preparation has in a number of 
cases been used with beneficial results, its employment, espe- 
cially when the foliage is young and tender, cannot be advised. 
For spraying the vines in spring, however, before the leaves ap- 
pear, it will doubtless prove as efficacious as any. 



20— FORMULA FOR A CHEAP KEROSENE EMULSION FOR 
SAP-SUOKINU INSECTS. 

Cheap kerosene 8 pints 

Water 4 pints 

Soap i pound 

Dissolve the soap in the water and add, boiling hot, to the 
kerosene. Churn the mixture by means of a force pump and 
spray nozzle for five or ten minutes. The emulsion, if perfect, 
forms a cream which thickens on cooling, and should adhere 
without oiliness to the surface of glass. Dilute one part of the 
emulsion to twenty-five parts of water. A common grade of kero- 



130 horticulturists' handbook. 

sene, which is good enough for this work, can be bought in most 
localities at eight cents per gallon by the barrel, and the soap 
used can be made for one cent per pound. This would make the 
batch given above cost eight and one-half cents, and diluted with 
twenty-five gallons of water to one of the emulsion would make 
thirty-eight and one-half gallons of wash. At this rate 100 gal- 
lons would cost twenty cents. 



21— APPLE TREE BORERS. 



Guard trees from infection by placing a shake or board on the 
south and west sides of the tree, which protects it from sunburn; 
or'give a coating of whitewash containing some soap and sulphur. 
In removing a borer, smear the wound over with grafting wax. 



22— WHALE OIL SOAP EMULSION, FOR MEALYBUGS. 



One pound of whale oil soap to five gallons of water. For 
mealy bugs and similar insects. It will injure some tender 
plants. 



23— WHITE HELEBORE, FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF THE 

CURRANT WORM AND OTHER INSECTS 

OF A SMALLER NATURE. 



White helebore. — A light brown powder made from the roots 
of the white helebore plant (Veratrum album), one of the lily fam- 
ily. It is applied both dry and in water. In the dry state, it is 
usually applied without dilution, although the addition of a 
little flour will render it more adhesive. In water, 1 ounce of 
the poison is mixed with 3 gallons. Helebore soon loses its 
strength, and a fresh article should always be demanded. It is 
much less poisonous than the arsenites. 



24— REMEDY FOR APPLE SCAB. HOME MANUFACTURE OF 
COPPER CARBONATE. 



As the precipitated form of carbonate of copper is not always 
-obtainable from druggists, directions are herewith appended for 
the easy preparation of this material at a cost much less than 
the usual wholesale price. 

In a vessel capable of holding two or three gallons, dissolve 1 
I pounds of copper sulphate (blue vitrol) in two quarts of hot 
water. This will be entirely dissolved in fifteen or twenty min- 
utes, using the crystalline form. In another vessel dissolve 1 f 
pounds of sal soda (washing soda), using 2 quarts of hot water. 
When completely dissolved, pour the second solution into the 
first, stirring briskly. When effervescence has ceased, fill the 
vessel with water and stir thoroughly ; then allow to stand five 
or six hours, when the sediment will have settled to the bottom. 
Pour off the clear liquid without disturbing the precipitate, fill 
with water again and stir as before, then allow it to stand until 
the sediment is settled again, which will take place in a few 
hours. Pour the clear liquid off carefully as before, and the 
residue is carbonate of copper. Using the above quantities of cop- 
per sulphate and sal soda, there will be formed 12 ounces of 
copper carbonate. 

Instead of drying this, w hich is a tedious operation, add four 
quarts of strong ammonia, stirring in well, then add sufficient 
water to bring the whole quantity up to 6 quarts. This can be 
kept in an ordinary two gallon stone jar, which should be closely 
corked. 



25— REMEDY FOR ORANGE SCALE. 



Hard soap, ^ pound -boiling water, 1 gallon; kerosene, 2 gal- 
lons. Churn or pump the ingredients vigorously 15 or 20 min- 
utes. Dilute ten times when using. This is the Hubbard or 
standard emulsion for the scale of the orange. 

Two ounces of balsam of fir added to the above appears to in- 
crease its efl&ciency, and it causes it to adhere to foliage better. 
One-half pint of spirits of turpentine is sometimes added. 



20- ROSIN WASH FOR WINTER USE. REMEDY FOR SAN 

JOSE SCALE. 



The following are the proportions of materials for the winter 
wash. 

Eosin , 30 pounds 

Caustic soda (70 per cent) 9 pounds 

Fish oil 4^ pints 

Directions. — Place the rosin, caustic soda, and fish oil in a 
large boiler, pouring over them about 20 gallons of water, and 
cook thoroughly over a brisk lire for at least three hours ; then 
add hot water, a little occasionally, and stir well, until you have 
not less than fifty gallons of hot solution. Place this in the 
spray tank and add cold water to make the necessary amount. 
Never add eold water when cooking. 



27— KEROSENE IN PURE STATE. 



In pure state, kerosene is used as an insecticide upon many 
plants, with various results. It does not appear to injure the 
coleus, rose, grape, peach and pea, but does injure the potato, 
tomato and gooseberry and other plants. 



28— FORMULA FOR MAKING FISH OIL SOAP. 

Crystal potash lye 1 pound 

Fish oil 2 pints 

Soft water 3 gallons 

A strong suds made at the rate of one pound of this soap to 
eight gallons of water will also be found a uniformly safe and 
satisfactory wash to use, killing the lice and not harming the 
vines. After standing three days, however, the suds will lose 
its efficacy. 



29— REMEDY FOR HOP APHIS. 



Quassia chips 8 pounds 

Whale oil soap 7 pounds 

The quassia chips are boiled in about one gallon of water to 
each pound of chips, for one hour. The soap is added while hot, 
and allowed to dissolve. This solution is then diluted with 100 
gallons of water. Use with sprayer. 



30— FOR CODLIN MOTH. 



FOR BAELY RIPENING APPLES AND PEARS. 

Spray once with one pound of Paris green to 180 galloas of 
water, when just out of bloom. 

FOR FALL AND WINTER APPLES AND PEARS. 

Spray twice ; first application as above , second application 
with one pound of Paris green to 200 gallons of water. Use the 
Paris green without any addition, simply stirring the liquid 
continually and straining before using. 

9 



31— PROTECTION AGAINST THE CODLIN MOTH. 



There are two modes of fighting them generally made use of — 
one is to prevent the hatching of the egg, or the killing of the 
young worm while working into the fruit ; the other is the catch- 
ing of the worm in traps as it is escaping from the fruit, or hav- 
ing the fruit eaten by the hogs as soon as it drops from the tree 
and before the worm escapes. The first mode is without doubt 
the most successful, and is also the least expensive. This is ac- 
complished by spraying the trees with London purple or Paris 
green, using one pound of either to one hundred and fifty gallons 
of water. Paris green is a compound of arsenic and copper. It 
is a far more powerful poison than arsenic alone, and is not sol- 
uble in water, hence it will remain much longer on the trees. 
London purple is another arsenical compound. It is the residue 
from the manufacture of aniline dye, and contains lime, arsenu- 
ous acid and carbonaceous matter. It is soluble, more adhesive 
and less poisonous than Paris green. It is better to wet the 
powder thoroughly and make a paste before putting it into the 
vessel of water, that it may not form lumps. The liquid should 
then be strained, thereby removing the sediment that is in the 
London purple. Some have reported that the London purple 
burned the foliage. This, doubtless, arose from a difference in 
the strength of the London purple, and we recommend that care 
be exercised and tests be made before using, so that it shall not 
be too strong. The spray is caused by forcing the liquid, by 
means of a force pump, through a fine perforated nozzle, made 
specially for the purpose. The finer it is the less liquid will be 
required. The important thin y is to scatter the spray on all the 
fruit. 



32— FOR CUT WORMS. 



It will be found to well repay the trouble and expense to place 
a band of tin around each cabbage or other plant at the same 
time of setting out. These may very easily be made by taking 
pieces of tin 6 inches long and 2^ wide and bending them around 
a spade or broom handle so as to form short tubes. In placing 
them around a plant the two ends can be sprung apart to admit 
the plant, and then the tube should be pressed about half an inch 
into the ground. I have found this a useful means of disposing 
of empty tomato and other cans. To prepare these easily, they 
need only to be thrown into a bonfire, when the tops and bottoms 
fall off and the sides become unsoldered. The central piece of 
tin can then be cut down the centre with a pair of shears, and 
form two tubes. Wrapping a piece of paper round the stems of 
plants when setting them out will also save a great many. 



{—CARBOLIC ACID AND SOAP MIXTURE. 



One pint crude carbolic acid, 1 quart of soft soap, 2 gallons of 
hot water. Mix thoroughly. This wash is used for borers and 
for plant lice. Apply with cloth or soft broom. 



34— FOR FLOWERING SHRUBS OR GARDEN PLANTS. 



Whale oil soap (80 per cent strength) ^ pound 

Water 1 gallon 

Directions. — Dissolve soap by boiling water, and apply at a 
temperature of 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 



I ^/ 



THE GREAT DEVELOPERS. 



I would be neglecting a duty did I close this book without a 
word of thanks to the obliging gentlemen representing the 
numerous great western railway companies with whom, in the 
pursuit of my inquiries, I have come in contact. 

However we, as a people, may differ in our ideas of the gen- 
eral management or the powerful corporations called railroad 
companies, we will all admit that many of the garden spots of 
our country would to-day have been a mere wilderness were it 
not for the enterprising energ}^ of the men who represent these 
vast concerns. Personally I am under many obligations for val- 
uable information and specimens which have benefitted not only 
myself but thousands of others in various states. Railroads are 
truly called the "great civilizer" and they can be as justly 
termed "great developers." The magnificent stretches of coun- 
try, specially adapted to fruit raising, to be found in this western 
part of our great nation, have been opened to settlement bj'^ the 
several railroad companies whose net work of steel climbs the 
mountains and sweeps through the valle}' of this "wonderland." 



WASHINGTON. 



Of the "Evergreen State" it is a difl&cult matter to speak fully 
in the small space at my disposal or without leaving myself open 
to the charge of "drawing a long bow." Washington is truly a 
"wonderland." Its vast forests and extensive mines are but a 
part of the natural resources of this state. The wheat of East- 
ern Washington or the great lumber, mineral and even fish in- 
dustries of Western Washington must be left to otliers. It is of 



138 ' horticulturists' handbook. 

fruit — the luscious peach or the kingly apple, the strawberry 
which is found in perfection in Washington, or of the grapes 
and other fruits of the famous Yakima country, I would speak. 

There is no limit to the field open to the fruit grower in 
Washington, east or west. I wish I had space to describe the 
Yakima country with its high altitude and magnificent climate, 
or to dwell upon the production of the Walla Walla Valley, 
where I might venture to say almost everything, except tropical 
fruits can be and are produced. 

Almost all these celebrated points are reached by the North- 
ern Pacific, and information, that can be fully depended upon, 
concerning this state can be secured at any time by addressing 
any of the prominent ofl&cers at St. Paul. 

As a hop country Washington, with its next neighbor, Ore- 
gon, stands at the head of the column. The famous White 
River Valley and the hop fields of Yakima are too well known ta 
need description. 

Whatcom county, with its twenty-five hundred or more young 
orchards which are now coming into bearing, together with the 
great Nooksack Valley has been opened by the Great Northern, 
and its vast and varied resources brought within the reach of the 
people. The fruit grower will be amply rewarded for his toil in 
this section as there is soil to produce and climate to bring to 
perfection the most varied classes of fruit, so that few sections 
of country o&ev better inducements, while the enterprise of the 
Great Northern railroad company provides excellent shipping 
for products. 



OREGON. 

Oregon, joining Washington on the south, is a counterpart of 
that state in many respects. The Cascade Mountains run nearly 
north and south through both, making an Eastern and Western 
Oregon as well as Washington. There is the same distinction 
of climate and altitude. The vast wheat fields and stock ranges 
of Eastern Oregon, the wonderful growth and excellent flavor of 
the fruits of that part of the state are known almost everywhere, 



horticulturists' handbook. 139 

while the famous Willamette Valley, of Western Oregon, 
stretching for 300 miles in length with a width varying from 50 
to 75 miles, can produce fruit enough, as well as other products, 
to feed millions. One must see this great valley to understand 
its richness or magnitude. It is almost an empire within itself 
and through its whole length the Southern Pacific and Willam- 
ette railroad winds, ready to carry the produce of the soil to the 
markets of the world or to bring to this vast garden the settler 
or tourist who may wish to enjoy or view its beauties. 

Besides the Willamette there is the fertile valley of the Rogue 
River, In addition to excelling in the apples and kindred fruit 
produced, it is a question if better peaches are grown anywhere 
than in the Rogue River Valley. Oregon produces almost all 
standard fruits from apples to the numerous berries, and its 
extensive fruit lands are traversed as fully by the Union Pacific 
and Southern Pacific as those of Washington by the Northern 
Pacific and Great Northern, and the terms "U. P." and ''S. P." 
are almost household words in the state. 



IDAHO. 

While the name Snake River Valley may not sound attractive, 
it is one of the most favored spots for fruit culture on this con- 
tinent. Idaho is justly proud of the Snake River country. I 
have travelled a great deal and have examined, closely, a vast 
area of fruit lands, and I think that for peaches, grapes and the 
numerous varieties of small fruits, the section of the Snake 
River country from Lewiston to Rapera is the peer of the best. 
All the necessary conditions for success are to be found there 
and the excellence of the flavor is on a par with the beauty of 
the fruit. Here again the railroad takes a prominent place as a 
developing force and brings the people into touch with other 
parts of the country. 

The vast country through which the Snake River runs south 
I did not travel, but from Huntington south-east, the Union 



140 horticulturists' handbook. 

Pacific traverses a land which needs but irrigation to make it a 
paradise for fruit growers. The water is there in abundance, 
and the near future will probably see a perfect system developed. 
Boise City is the centre of another splended fruit section of 
Idaho traversed by the Union Pacific, a spur being run from the 
main line at Nanipa to Boise City. 



UTAH. 

Of Utah I am tempted to say a great deal . The admission of 
Utah to the sisterhood of states will doubtless bring in numerous 
settlers and I may venture to say that none who come with a 
willingness to toil will be disappointed with the reward given 
for their labor. Utah is more vast and is better adapted to fruit 
raising than many people realize. From the great Salt Lake 
basin of the northern part of the state, to the favored "Dixie'' of 
Southern Utah, the heart of the fruitgrower is gladdened with a 
territory and climatic conditions that will produce varieties of 
fruit from the ever popular apple to the orange. "Orange?" you 
say; yes, orange, as I am quite satisfied that fruit can be pro- 
duced in Southern Utah, appropriately termed "Dixie." The 
mountain ranges of Utah furnishes the water. The land is 
ready to return "an hundred fold" the investments of the hus- 
bandman and to give great crops of splendid fruit for the plant- 
ing and culture. 

The Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and Denver and Eio 
Grande railroads have already provided a highway of steel to 
many parts of Utah and they are still pushing their way into 
-new territory, bringing to the settler joy, and opening to the 
over-crowded cities of the East an Eldorado for the thousands 
who only need the opportunitj^ to become farmers and fruit- 
growers. To those who are prone to favor the occupation I so 
dearly love, fruit growing, Utah offers a field I know will suit 
them. The railroad companies already mentioned will gladly 
give needed information of the country. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Golden California has been a name to conjure with ever since 
the gold discoveries of '49. AVhile the gold fields first made 
California famous, it is by the fields of golden fruit she is best 
known now. California fruit is as standa)'d as the No. 1 hard 
wheat of the Dakota s. 

"While all the natural resources of California have been there 
for untold years, it was chiefly through the enterprise of the 
Southern Pacific railroad company that their development was 
made possible. Sections of country, nowlike visions of paradise, 
have been brought from the wilds by the incoming of that high- 
way of commerce, the railroad. It would bewilder one who has 
never seen the fruit fields of California did I attempt to describe 
them. They are so extensive, so varied. The crops produced 
by the grape vines of California would seem, if told to many of 
our Eastern brethren, like stories from the ''Arabian Nights.'^ 
These things have been recorded by abler pens than mine, and 
in words not at my command. California is just California and 
no words of man can say more of it as a fruit country. 



ARIZONA. 



Arizona is attracting considerable notice just at this time. I 
have intended to visit that territory for some time past and trust 
to be able to do so in the near future. For diversity of climate 
Arizona is well known, and with irrigation there should be, and 
doubtless would be, excellent fruit grown in profusion. The 
Southern Pacific and other enterprising companies see there is a 
great future for Arizona and will soon open it up more fully for 
settlement. 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



Our cousins to the north have a fine country which is rapidly 
coming into prominence. The Canadian Pacific railway, built 
at a tremendous expense across a difficult and sparsely settled 
country, brought the people of British Columbia into almost 
close contact with the eastern provinces of the Dominion. 
British Columbia produces excellent apples and pears and almost 
all the various members of the plum family thrive well, while 
small fruits are very prolific. The Fraser River Valley will be 
one of the noted fruit producing sections of North America, and 
to the Canadian Pacific railroad company the possibility of de- 
veloping this fine country is due. 



STATE BOARDS OF HORTICULTURE. 



The states appointing State Boards of Horticulture have been 
amply repaid for the act. I have become conversant with the 
work of many of these bodies in the states where my researches 
and labors have brought me, and I can speak in the highest 
terms of their zeal and ability in almost every instance. It is 
encouraging to find men of earnestness and ability working to 
advance so important a part of the resources of the nation as 
Horticulture. 

Without discussing the causes, the fact remains that our fruit 
industry is seriously injured by the swarms of insects to be met at 
almost every point, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. To com- 
bat these pests, and to advance the general interests of the fruit 
industry, is the mission of our state boards. Whatever we can 
do to assist these boards should be done. No man, or body of 
men, is infallible and all are, or should be, willing to receive or 
give information. To this end let us all scan very closely the 
insects we have to deal with in protecting our fruit, and become 
as familiar as possible with the many diseases our favorite tree^ 
and shrubs are subject to. By doing this we will benefit our- 
selves and obtain information which will enable us to annihilate 
these pests. All valuable information obtained in our researches 
should, in such manner as we think best, be brought into gen- 
eral use. In this work our State Boards of Horticulture will do 
their share. 



TESTIMONIALS. 



WASHINGTON TESTIMONIALS. 



C. E. BOGARDUS, chkmist foe the 

AssAYER AND Chemist. Seattle Board of Health 

60 Columbia St. city chemist. 



Seattle, Wash., August 21, 1894. 
Prof. W. H. Brown, Seattle, Wash.: 

Dear Sir — I have carefully examined the formulas of your 
"Prof. W. H. Brown's Insecticides" and find them to be com- 
pounded upon thoroughly scientific principles for obtaining the 
different ingredients in the form of a solution or emulsion to 
gain the best results, especially the sulphur, arsenic and coppers 

Eespectfully, 

C. E. BOGARDUS. 



Office of S. G. DEWSNAP, 

Mining Engineer and Analytical Chemist 

19 OoLMAN Building, Front St. 

Seattle, Wash., Aug. 20, 1894. 
Mr. W. H. Brown, Seattle: 

Dear Sir — Last spring, at your recommendation, the trees in 
my yard were sprayed with a solution of your insect extermin- 
ator compound with the exception of (2^) two and one half 
apple trees, i. e., two apple trees were not sprayed at all and (^) 
one half of one tree only was sprayed. The trees that were 



144 horticulturists' handbook. 

sprayed were cherries, plums, prunes and apple trees and they 
have all borne good crops of fine fruit. We have not seen a 
single wormy cherry or a knotty plum so far this year. The two 
trees not sprayed it is almost impossible to tell what they are, 
for they are so covered with all sorts of pests. We had some 
fruit last year, but not nearly so good a yield and not nearly so 
good quality, many of the cherries beiug wormy and the plums 
and prunes falling off before ripening. 

Will further say that last year we had almost no roses, be- 
cause destroyed by aphis, red spider and worms, but from one 
spraying last spring the bushes were cleaned and we have had 
abundance of roses all this season. Without spraying I am satis- 
fied that we should have had no good fruit or flowers this year. 

Yours very respectfully, 

S. G. Dbwsnap. 



Ross, Wash,, August 14, 1894. 
To Whom it May Concern : This is to certify that I have sprayed 
with the fungicides as recommended by the State Board of Hor- 
ticulture of Washington and have found them very injurious to 
the foliage and of no benefit to the fruit whatever. I have 
sprayed with the fungicide recommended by W. H. Brown and 
find it to be of no injury to the foliage and of great benefit to the 
fruit. While I consider the whale oil and quassia emulsion 
the best destroyer for green aphis, I consider the "Prof. Brown's 
Insecticide" the best for all general purposes as an insecticide 
for the destruction of insects. Signed, 

William Crawford. 



Fremont, Wash., August 14, 1894. 
I do not hesitate to state that Mr. William Crawford, whose 
name appears in the foregoing testimonial, is a man of truth and 
veracity. His word where given is unquestionably good and he 
is one of our best horticulturists. Signed, 

H. P. Miller. M. D. 



horticulturist's hakdbook. 145 

Seattle, Wash., Aug. 21, 1894. 
Mr. W. H. Brown -. 

Dear Sir — I feel it my duty as well as my privilege to inform 
5^ou that the cherry trees you operated on for me last spring, 
and that I had given up to die from bleeding, are now cured 
and have put on a good growth. I consider that you have not 
missed your calling when you are called to be a physician of 
trees. My peach tree that was dying, and that you said had 
peach yellows, has recovered, it having put forth two feet of 
growth this season. 

D. W. Jackson, 
Cor. of Weller and Bush Sts., Seattle. 



Seattle, Wash., Aug. 21, 1894. 
To Whom it May Coneern: This is to certify that my rose bushes 
were being destroyed by rose aphis, which were so numerous 
that they covered the whole surface of the tender growths and 
that by one spraying with the " Prof. W. H. Brown's Ins*^cti- 
cide," diluted at the rate of one pound of the compound to eleven 
gallons of the water, it killed 99 per cent, of all insect life 
that was on when the spraying took place. It is a pleasure foi' 
me to say to the public that this insecticide is all that Mr. 
Brown claims for it. 

John W. Gilson, 

1206 Lakeview St., Seattle. 



Seattle, ISTov. 21, 1892. 
To the State Board of Horticulture, and to all others whom it may 
concern: 
We, the following members of the Board of County Commis- 
sioners, do hereby certify: That the county poor farm orchard 
of King county, Washington, was two years ago and for many 
years before that time, one of the worst pest infested orchards 
in the state of Washington. That in the fall of 1890 we em- 
ployed Prof. W. H. Brown to treat this orchard with his "In- 



146 horticulturist's handbook. 

sect Exterminating Compounds," and he so effectually extermi- 
n ated the pests that the trees have regained their life and vigor 
and have produced abundant crops ever since his application of 
the exterminator, and have been free from all pests except in a 
few instances where the insects came from neighboring pest rid- 
den orchards. We recommend Prof. Brown's Compound to do 
all that he claims it will do in exterminating insect pests. 

Fred Gasoh, Chairman, 
W. H. Taylor, Treasurer, 
Members of the Board of County Commissioners. 



GrBORGETowN, Dec. 7, 1892. 
During the fall of 1890, Prof. W. H. Brown cleansed my or- 
chard with his Insect Exterminator which caused an improved 
quality and increased quantity of fruit, besides greatly improv- 
ing the condition of the trees. I cheerfully recommend its use 
by all owning orchards. 

Julius Horton, Ex-Assessor of King county. 



With one application of Prof. Brown's insect wash, my whole 
orchard, of about two hundred trees, have been practically rid of 
these pests. I think I can safely say that to-day there are on 
the whole orchard not so many as were on one small limb when 
Prof. Brown began work on them. A single day's work will 
now finish the job already so well begun. The work is not ex- 
pensive, the application kills the pests and at the same time, 
cleans off the moss, etc., from the bark and leaves it in a bright 
and healthy condition. In a word. Prof. Brown's work is a 
grand success. 

I have also examined and applied his system of combined 
Irrigation and Fertilization and am confident that it will be as 
successful in its results as have been his efforts in ridding the 
trees of their enemies. 

C. B. Bagley, 
Vice-President North End Bank, Seattle. 



OREGON TESTIMONIALS. 



Prof. W. H. Brown: 

Dear Sib — I have this day made a careful and thorough ex- 
amination of the orchards and yards of A. H. Johnson, E. J. 
Jeflfery and Jacob Kamm, that were cleaned and sprayed by you 
last fall, and I not only find the trees and shrubs free from all 
insect pests, but the trees and shrubs are in a healthy condition 
and are taking on a new growth. All of the trees and shrubs in 
the above orchards and yards were very badly infested with the 
San Jose scale and woolly and green aphis before being treated 
by you, so much so that I had thought it about impossible to re- 
claim many, if any, of them. I regard the wash used by you as 
very effective in the destruction of all insect pests, and most 
heartily recommend its use by all who have trees or shrubs in- 
fested with any insects injurious to them. I desire to thank you 
and those associated with you for the very effective and thorough 
work that you have done in our orchards and yards in ridding 
them of the obnoxious pests that have infested them. 

Very truly yours, 

E. W. Allen, 
Sec. and Asst. Inspector, State Board of Horticulture of Oregon. 



Grant's Pass, March 17, 1892. 
This is to certify that I have seen Prof. W. H. Brown inspect- 
ing orchards for injurious insect pests, and have talked with him 
on subjects pertaining to infested orchards, and from my per- 
sonal knowledge of Prof. Brown I would most cordially recom- 
mend to all the fruit men of Southern Oregon, who have the 
fruit interest at heart and desire the removal of any and all 
kinds of injurious insects and pests from their orchards, to avail 
themselves of Prof. Brown's knowledge. My faith is such that 



148 horticulturists' handbook. 

I have bought of Prof. Brown his remedies for the suppression of 
injurious insect pests, so as to be prepared in the event should 
my orchard or nursery ever become infested. 

A. H. Carson, 
Redland Nursery. 



Portland, Oct. 9, 1891. 
To Whom it May Coneern: This is to certify that the fruit trees 
and shrubs in my home orchard and lawn were terribly infested 
with insect pests, such as San Jose scale, woolly aphis, codlin 
moth, and in fact all other insects that fruit trees seem to be heir 
to. I engaged Prof. W. H. Brown, who operated on them with 
his Insect Exterminator, and I am convinced that he has left 
few, if any, to tell the story. I take pleasure in recommending 
him to the public, and also endorsing the testimonials given-him 
in other states. 

A. H. Johnson, Capitalist. 



Applbgate, April 18, 1892. 
Prof. Brown's Insect Exterminator wipes out the San Jose 
scale. I know this to be a fact for I have tried it. 

W. B. York. 

Postmaster Hammond, of Ashland, said to a Tidings' reporter : 
"I have about seventy trees, apple, cherry, pear, and plum, on 
my lot, and many of them were so badly infested with the San 
Jose scale that I had determined as a final resort to set fire to 
them. Prof. Brown, in looking over the various orchards about 
town, saw the condition of my trees and undertook to eradicate 
the pests with his Insect Exterminator, He applied the wash 
to all parts of the trees, and now instead of thinking of burning 
or cutting them down, I think they are entirely free from the 
pests that so completely infested them and will be as healthy as 
ever. Some of the trees were in blossom but the wash has not 
affected the blossoms in the least." 



horticulturist's handbook. 149 

Portland, Nov. 10, 1891. 
To Whom it May Concern: I have been acquainted with Prof. 
Brown, intimately, for the past twelve years, and during all 
that time have known him to be an eminent man in his profes- 
sion in the state of Minnesota ; and from my acquaintance and 
knowledge of the man, can heartily recommend him as a trust- 
worthy, reliable man, and a thorough expert in the care and 
wants of shrubbery and fruit trees. 

W. H. Johnson, 
Of the law firm of Johnson & Morcom. 



Portland, June 14, 18G2. 
My orchard was infested with San Jose scale, oyster shell 
scale, woolly and green aphis, to such an extent that I had lost 
all hope of eradicating them, when Prof. W. H. Brown called on 
me and asked permission to try his Insect Exterminator on my 
orchard. The test was so successful that I employed him to 
clear my orchard of the above pests, and I must say that he 
made a complete and clean job of it. I have no hesitancy in 
recommending him and his Insect Exterminator to all fruit 
growers, as his remedies are better than any of the California 
remedies that I have tried. In fact the Exterminator does all 
that is claimed for it to do. 

John Mock. 

10 




CALIFORNIA TESTIMONIALS. 



Santa Clara, July 1, 1892. 
I hereby certify that Prof. W. H, Brown sprayed a prune tree 
that was badly infested witli brown apricot scale, hatched and 
on the leaves. His spray, whatever it might be, began to show 
its efifects as soon as dry. After three days, I have this day ex- 
amined many leaves and do not find a live scale. One twig on 
another tree, all of which was affected with the live scale on the 
leaf, was sprayed and the same results found on the leaves of 
that twig. The woolly and rose aphis immediately yielded to 
his treatment. 

Very Respectfully, Etc., 

Philo Heesey, 
President West Side Fruit Growers' Association, 

Santa Clara Valley. 



Santa Clara, July 1, 1892, 
To Whom it May Concern: This certifies that Prof. W. H. 
Brown has sprayed several trees of mine with a liquid prepara- 
tion of his to destroy the plum aphis. I can say that all insects 
that were reached by the spray were killed. Ho has also 
treated an apple tree for woolly aphis. As far as such came in 
contact with insects the same were killed. 

A. Block, 
Commissioner State Board of Horticulture, 

San Francisco District. 



San Jose, July 2, 1892. 
The orchards in the vicinity of San Jose are subject to the 
ravages of many insect pests so common throughout the state. 



horticultiTeists' handbook. 151 

I have visited many of them with Prof. W. H. Brown and wit- 
nessed him experiment with his Insect Exterminator on the 
San Jose, brown and black scale, codlin moth and the woolly and 
green aphis. The insects were destroyed with one spraying, 
without injury to the tree or its foliage. From what I saw I am 
satisfied that this is the best insect exterminator ever introduced 
in this county, and should be used by every orchardist that 
cares to destroy these insects and preserve the orchards. 

Geo. W. Welch. 



Watsonville, July 20, 1892. 
Prof. W. H. Brown: 

Dear Sir — The apple trees which you sprayed in my orchard 
with your Insect Exterminator, five or six days ago, — one be- 
ing full of woolly aphis and the other having both woolly and 
green aphis on it — are now entirely clean and free from these 
insects. There is no perceptible injury to the foliage. One of 
these trees had been previously sprayed with the resinous pre- 
paration, but failed to destroy the aphis. I think your Insect 
Exterminator is the best I have ever seen, as it can be used at 
any time without injury to the foliage of the trees, nor is it 
harmful in any way to those who use it. 

Yours truly, 

James Waters. 
Prominent orchardist and owner of Pajarro Valley Nursery. 



Watsonville, July 19, 1892. 
This is to certify that Prof. W. H. Brown sprayed one tree of 
mine that was white as snow with woolly aphis. The insects 
were destroyed with one spraying without injury to the tree. I 
consider Prof. W. H. Brown's preparation to be the best woolly 
aphis exterminator I have seen. 

S. Martinelli. 



162 HOBTICtTLTUKISTS' HANDBOOK. 

Watsonvillb, July 19, 1892. 
This certifies that Prof. W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator 
is, in my estimation, the only one that will kill the woolly aphis^ 
which is the hardest of all insects to destroy. It will also kill 
all other aphis and scale of every kind in five minutes ; and in 
proof of what I say I have bought the county right of Santa 
Cruz county, which shows what I believe about the value of it 
as an insect exterminator. 

W. H. Bowman, 
Fruit grower and Nurseryman, Prop, of Corralitos Nursery, 



Watsonville, July 19, 1892 
From actual observation I freel}'^ assert that Prof. W. H. 
Brown's Fruit Pest Exterminator and system of application is 
the safest and most effective of any I ever saw. 

Respectfully, 

A. N. JUDD, 



Watsonville, July 12, 1892. 
This is to certify that Prof. W. H. Brown sprayed some trees 
in my orchard, using his exterminator. He successfully de- 
stroyed the woolly and green aphis. He also did some spraying 
on a tree that was infested with apricot scale, and wherever the 
Exterminator reached the insects they appeared to be destroyed. 

J. A. McCuNE, 
Horticultural Commissioner. 



Watsonville, July 19, 1892. 
W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator destroys woolly aphis to 
my satisfaction wherever it touches them. 

M. B. TUTTLE. 



HORTICULTUEISTS' HANDBOOK. 153 

Watsonville, July 20, 1892. 
I hereby certify that after being out in the various orchards 
in our valley the past week with Prof. W. H. Brown, and hav- 
ing seen the workings of his Exterminator, I do not hesitate to 
say that it is the most wonderful remedy ever applied to a tree 
or shrub, having seen it destroy woolly aphis, green aphis, plum 
aphis, codlin moth, black and brown scale, and hop lice in trees 
that had been washed with exterminators such as salt, sulphur 
^nd lime, rosin wash, I. X. L., and other exterminators such as 
have been need and recommended throughout our state, and had 
failed to exterminate — his remedy killing instantly, and leaving 
the tree and foliage in a good clean and healthy condition. 

G. W. Sill. 



"Watsonville, July 20, 1892. 
I am willing to vouch for the truth of all the testimonials 
from Watsonville. 

H. 8. Fletcher, 
Cashier of the Bank of Watsonville. 



IDAHO TESTIMONIALS. 



Lewiston, July 24, 1891. 
To Whom it May Concern: To-day Prof. W. H. Brown has oper- 
ated on my orchard for the purpose of showing what he can do 
in the way of destroying the scale and other insects which have 
such a strong hold on the orchards in this vicinity. I can say I 
am perfectly satisfied his recipes in connection with his Patent 
Irrigator and Insect Exterminator will destroy every form of the 
insect pest, if used as he directs. I am also satisfied the Professor 
has found the cause of so many tomatoes dying, and am thor- 
oughly convinced that the recipe he will furnish, if properly 
used, will prevent death of the vine and cause them to produce 
a bountiful crop of fruit. I consider this alone to be well worth 



154 horticulturists' handbook. 

the price of all. I have purchased of him his Recipes and the 
right to use them, and his Patent Irrigator and Insect Exter- 
miinator. 

Respectfully, 

August Delsol. 



Lbwiston, July 24, 1891. 
To Whom it May Coneeni: Prof. W. H. Brown visited my place 
yesterday for the purpose of making a personal examination of 
my orchard. I decided at once to have him operate. Am well 
pleased with his mode of operation, and thoroughly satisfied he 
can do all he says he can do. Without doubt, his Recipes in 
connection with his Patent Irrigator and Insect Exterminator 
will destroy every form of insect that infests our fruit trees. I 
consider it the duty of every one who has an orchard, to procure 
at once the best method of ridding it of the terrible pests that 
will so soon destroy not only their own orchards, but those of 
the entire country. So thoroughly satisfied am I that Prof. 
Brown has this, I have purchased of him an orchard right for 
his Patent Irrigator, Insect Exterminator, and his Recipes. 

Respectfully, 

Louis Delsol. 



Lbwiston, July 25, 1891. 
To Whom it May Concern: Pi-of. W. H. Brown operated on a 
tree for me that was apparently in its last stages. In five min- 
utes after the application of the liquid, every form of insect was 
dead. Four days after the operation, I find the foliage has re- 
turned to its natural color and new growth has actually put out. 
The saving of this tree alone is worth more than the price of 
all. Every one who has an orchard, should have Prof Brown's 
Recipes, and his Irrigator and Insect Exterminator. 

James Kearny, 
Henry McNaley. . 



horticulturists' handbook. 155 

Lewiston, July 31, 1891. 
To Whom it May Coneern: By my request, Prof. W. H. Brown 
operated in my orchard f^r the extermination of the scales. So 
thorough and successful was his work, I take pleasure in recom- 
mending him to all fruit growers, trusting they will do as I have 
done — purchase his Recipes and his Patent Irrigator and Insect 
Exterminator. 

Judge J. W. Pok. 



COLORADO TESTIMONIALS. 



Denver, April 15, 1893. 
'^Resolved, That the thanks of the Colorado State Board of 
Horticulture be extended to Professor W. H. Brown for his able 
and instructive lecture on injurious insects and for practical les- 
sons in entomology, exemplified by practical labor and illustra- 
tions in the orchards of Jefferson county ; that in the composi- 
tion of Professor Brown's Insecticide we recognize the best and 
most effective remedial agents, and believe the Insecticide to be 
a safe and valuable remedy." 

Signed : Judge W. B. Osborn, President, Loveland. 

John Tobias, Secretary, Denver. 

C. W. Steele, Grand Junction. 

David Brothers, Wheat Ridge. 



De Beque, April 17, 1893. 
To Whom it May Coneern: I have visited many of the orchards 
in this vicinity in the past few daj^s in company with Professor 
W. H. Brown and have seen him operate on the woolly aphis^ 
red spider and brown scale with his Insect Exterminator and I 
have no hesitation in sajdng that his Exterminator is sure death 
to fruit pests. I have purchased the right to use it and believe 
it to be to the interest of all fruit growers to do the same. 

William Harris, Merchant. 



156 horticulturist's handbook. 

Grand Junction, April 19, 1893. 
I hereby certify that after being in various orchards in our 
A'^alley the past week with Professor W. H. Brown and having 
seeing the work of his Exterminator, I do not hesitate to say that 
after seeing him operate on the green aphis, woolly aphis and red 
spider that his Exterminator is a success and that I have faith 
enough in it that I have purchased the right of western Colorado. 

A. A. Miller, 
President, Grand Junction Fruit Growers' Association. 



Grand Junction, April 19, 1893. 

This is to certify that Professor W. H. Brown sprayed some 

trees in my orchard, using his Exterminator. He successfully 

destroyed the woolly aphis and green aphis and also the red 

spider, and I cheerfully recommend its use by all fruit growers. 

KoBERT Orr, 
Fruit Grower, Grand Junction, Colorado. 



Bessmer, April 26, 1893. 
I take pleasure in stating that I have tried Professor Brown's 
Insecticide and find it does the work satisfactorily, as far as 
greenhouse insects are concerned, and that I have purchased 
the right to use the formula. 

Harry Baker, 

Florist and Market Gardener. 



Canon City, April 25, 1893. 
To Whom it May Coneern: This is to certify that I have visited 
several orchards in the neighborhood of Canon City in the last 
few days in company with Professor W. H. Brown, and have seen 
him operate on the woolly aphis and red spider with his Insect 
Exterminator, and have no hesitancy in saying it is just what we 
want in Colorado to exterminate the fast increasing insect pests 



horticulturists' handbook. 157 

in this state. This Insect Exterminator, as far as I have seen, 
will do all he claims for it. To show our faith in the same we 
have bought the right to use it for Fremont county. 

John Gravestock, 
President of Fremont County Horticultural Society. 



Canon City, April 25th, 1893. 
To Whom it May Concern: This is to certify that I have seen 
Professor W. H. Brown exterminate orchard insects with his 
Insect Exterminator, and have such confidence in its efficiency in 
exterminating insect pests that I have purchased a one-half in- 
terest in Fremont county for his patents for the extermination 
of insect pests. 

W. A. Helm, 
Treasurer of Fremont County Horticultural Society. 



UTAH TESTIMONIALS. 



Salt Lake City, May 27th, 1893. 

To Whom it May Concern : I this day saw Prof. W. H. Brown 
operate on the woolly aphis, peach aphis, and the tent cater- 
pillar, with his Insect Exterminator. The insects were alive 
and active upon trees as shown to me, but after being sprayed 
by the Professor with his exterminator, no signs of life were to 
be observed with the most powerful glass through which I looked. 

Under these circumstances I have no hesitancy in indorsing 
the recommendations of Mr. George B. Wallace and Mr. John 
H. White. 

Angus M. Cannon, 
President Salt Lake Stake of Latter Day Saints. 



158 horticulturists' handbook. 

Salt Lake, Oct. 2, 1893. 
Prof. W. H. Brown: 

Dear Sir — Do you know that your Insect Exterminator is the 
best bed bug exterminator I ever saw. 

S. Hales, 



Granger, May 18th, 1893. 
To Whom it May Concern: This certifies that Prof. W. H. 
Brown sprayed fruit trees of mine for woolly aphis, tent cater- 
pillar and cottony Gushing scale, with a liquid prepared by him 
for the destruction of insects. All insects reached by the spray 
were killed. 

I fully endorse Prof. Brown's Insect Exterminator. 

George B. Wallace. 



Salt Lake, May 17th, 1893. 
To Whom it May Concern: This is to certify that I have exam- 
ined (to-day) several specimens of bark and twigs taken from 
fruit trees in our city, and found them full^' alive with insect 
life, and that I witnessed Prof. W. H. Brown experiment with 
his "Insect Exterminator" upon the same, and the insects were 
immediately^ destroyed. I believe that Prof, Brown's remedy is 
sufficient to cleanse our trees from the pest of insects, and should 
be used by every orchardist who cares to preserve his orchard. 

John H. White. 



Salt Lake, April 3, 1893. 
This is to certify that in my presence Prof. W. H. Brown 
sprayed some bark and knots of fruit trees that were terribly in- 
fested with San Jose scah^ and woolly aphis, destroying all in- 
sect life with his Insect Exterminator in a few minutes. 

M. Christopherson, 
John Gabbott, 
-, Salt Lake Nursery. 



horticulturists' handbook. 159f 

Salt Lake, April 3, 1893. 
Having had like experience with Prof. Brown's Insect Ex- 
terminator, I can, and do not hesitate to, endorse the above 
statement of Messrs. Christopherson and John Gabbott. 

J. W. Chamberlin & Sons, 

Star Nursery Co^ 



NEBRASKA TESTIMONIALS. 



Hickman, August 12, 1893. 
To Whom it May Concern: Having purchased two bills of trees 
of Prof. W. H. Brown, 14 years ago, and having been much ben- 
efitted by his advice as regards sickly fruit trees and having 
now heard him explain the cause of the ruin the blight is bring- 
ing to our orchards, and having seen him operate with his In- 
sect Exterminator on the tent-caterpillar, woolly aphis, codlin 
moth and cabbage worm, the exterminator killing instantly all 
insects that it came in contact with, therefore I have no hesi- 
tancy in saying that I have purchased an orchard right, and 
would unhesitatingly recommend its use to my friends and the- 
public at large. J. Stein, Fruit Grower, 



MINNESOTA TESTIMONIALS. 



St. Paul, Minn., October 4, 1889. 
Prof. W. H. Brown. St. Paul: 

Dear Sir — Last June the four large hard maple trees in front 
of my house were apparently dying, when your apparatus was 
applied. Since then the trees have regained vigor, produced 
new growth and are evidently out of danger. I heartily recom- 
mend your apparatus to anyone similarly situated, or who is in 
danger of losing his shade trees. 

A. W. Krech, 
JSTat. Ger. Am. Bank Bl'lg., St. Paul, Minn. 



160 horticulturists' handbook. 

state of Minnesota, 
Executive Department. 

St. Paul, October 4, 1889. 

To Whom it May Concern: I am pleased to recommend Prof. 
Brown's Tree, Shrub and Lawn Fertilizing Apparatus as an ap- 
pliance that accomplishes excellent results in the preservation 
of trees and shrubbery, and in producing a healthy growth. 
The apparatus was applied to trees upon the Capitol grounds, 
and the results are very satisfactory. 

W. R. Merriam, Governor. 



St. Paul, October 19, 1889. 
I take pleasure in endorsing. Gov. Merriajn's recommendation 
of Prof. Brown. 

CoL. W. P. Clough, 
Vice Pres. Great Northern R. R. Co. 



The trees on the Capitol grounds were, to all appearances, in 
a dying condition. The treatment given them by Prof. Brown 
kas been most beneficial, causing them to put forth new foliage 
and infusing new life and vigor to those trees receiving his care . 

W. W. Braden, State Auditor. 



St. Paul, October 18, 1889. 
I cordially endorse the statements made herein by Gov. Mer- 
riam, Auditor Braden and Col. Clough. 

Gen. Geo. L. Becker, 

State Railroad Commissioner. 



St. Paul, Minn., October 5, 1889. 
Anyone who does not believe in*Prof Brown's Tree, Shrub and 
Lawn Fertilizing Apparatus can examine my tree on corner of 
Summit avenue and St. Peter street, where they will find a tree 



horticulturist's handbook. 161 

that had lost most of its foliage in August. Since that time it 
got a new coat of foliage, and has produced a vigorous growth. 

E. N. Saunders. 



St. Paul, Minn., October 5, 1889. 
To Whom it May Concern: I do not hesitate to recommend to 
the public Prof. Brown's Tree, Shrub and Lawn Fertilizing Ap- 
paratus from the fact that I had two large trees in a dying con- 
dition that I could hardly replace for money. Mr. Brown oper- 
ated on them with his Fertilizing Apparatus. The trees are 
both in a healthy condition, one of which being the last to give 
up its green foliage this autumn. 

Geo. Palmes, 
260 Summit Avenue. 



St. Paul, Minn., October 5, 1889. 
I wish to state that one of the trees on the Capitol 
grounds, operated on by Prof. Brown, was in a dying condition 
at the time of the operation and had lost most of its toliage. It 
has reproduced a new foliage and growth, some of which being 
eight inches in length, and produced in sixteen days from date 
of operation. 

C. A. Rose, Janitor State Capitol. 



St. Paul, Minn., October 5, 1889. 
To Whom it May Concern : I have a tree the leaves of which 
turned yellow in August of this year. Mr. Brown put one of his 
Tree, Shrub and Lawn Fertilizing Apparatus to its roots, after 
which the leaves that were then on fell off, but soon reproduced 
new foliage, which was without a question, produced by Prof. 
Brown's Tree, Shrub and Lawn Fertilizing Apparatus. 

Geo. Benz, 
5 Sherburne Avenue. 



162 HOKTIOUtiT.URISTS' HANDBOOK. 

St. Paul, October 18, 1889. 
I am fully satisfied that the applications as made by W. H. 
Brown, through his Fertilizer will save the life of trees, etc., to 
which they may be applied. 

B. W. Bbunson, 
Prop. Brunson's Addition to St. Paul. 



ST. PAUL REFERENCES BY PERMISSION. 



Ex-Mayor Smith Et. Eev, Archbishop Ireland. 

Judge Chandler Ex-Gov. Alex. Ramsey 

Judge Gilfillan Sisters of St. Joseph Academy 

Gen. J. H. Bishop Gen. Geo. L. Becker 

Gen. H. H. Sibley Sisters of Convent Visitation 

•G. H. Moffett Ex-Gov. Marshall 

Hon. H. A. Castle Uri L. Lamprey 

Hon. Wm. A. Van Slyke Hon. E. F. Drake 



BRITISH COLUMBIA TESTIMONIALS. 



ISTew Westminster, Feb. 28, 1893. 
To all Whom are Coneerned: I beg leave to state that I have 
enquired as to W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator, while in 
Oregon and find that I can cheerfully recommend its use to all 
owning orchards. 

E. HUTCHERSON, 

Inspector of Fruit Pests. 



Victoria, Jan. 17th, 1893. 
To Whom it May Coneern: The trees on my place (Henry 
King's, corner Cedar Hill and Mt. Tolmie Roads) were almost 
alive with insects peculiar to fruit trees. Mr. Brown cut twigs 
from the worst of them, applied his mixture in my presence, and 
in less than five minutes thereafter, what was insect life assumed 
the shape of jelly, and the twigs were left clean of live pests. 
'The experiment was a very interesting one. I have purchased 
jhis receipt for my own use. 

MuNROE Miller. 



horticulturists' handbook. 163 

Having had like experience with W. H. Brown's Insect Ex- 
terminator, we can, and do not hesitate to indorse the foregoing 
statement of Muuroe Miller. 

James Tod & Son, 
Deans Bros. 



Victoria, Jan. 9th, 1893. 
To Whom it May Coneern: My fruit trees have been infested so 
that some of them were fairly covered with insects and eggs. 
A single tree had tens of thousands, almost beyond estimate. 
With one application of W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator I 
can safely say there are few, if any, left to tell the stor^^ I re- 
commend W. H. Brown's Insect Exterminator to do all that he 
claims it will do in exterminating insects. 

H. Saunders, Merchant. 



PRESS OPINION. 



Prof. Brown showed us how to kill "chicken mites" with his 
insect exterminator this morning. The Professor got a board, 
literally covered with those insects, and sprayed it before a num- 
ber of spectators, among whom was the Hon. David Stoker, and 
at the same time offering ten cents for each insect they could find 
alive in ten minutes after the remedy had been applied, but no 
one asked the professor for a re ward. — Davis County (Utah) Clipper, 
March, 1894. 



Can the blight on fruit trees be cured ? Eead what the Colo- 
rado Field and Farm, of Sept. 14, 1893, has to say on the subject : 

"The science of tree doctoring may in time become a recog- 
nized occupation among horticulturists. Professor Brown, of 
Seattle, Washington, is in the business exclusively and during a 
visit to Denver last April he applied some remedial measures 
to a Wealthy apple tree in the orchard of David Brothers on 
Wheat Ridge. This tree was nearly dead from three year's at- 
tack of blight. To-day it is thrifty and apparently recovered 
from its recent illness. Its new growth of twigs measure over 
two feet and the tree is saved, whereas it would surely have 
been dead by this time but for Dr. Brown's treatment." 



184 horticulturists' handbook. 

This experiment took place in the orchard of David Brothers, 
Wheat Ridge, who is one of the State Board of Horticulture of 
Colorado. 

PHYSICIAN OF TREES. 



There are doctors in Seattle for every ill that flesh is heir to, 
as everybody knows, but everybody does not know that this city 
can boast of a physician for the vegetable kingdom. Yet such is 
the case, and many are the c*wners of drooping and dying 
trees who have gone to him for treatment for their leafy friends 
and found comfort. His name is Professor W. H. Brown, and he 
came here from St. Paul about a year ago, having there restored 
to life and health m ny a sickly tree, just as a physician brings 
back the roses to the cheeks of a human patient. 

Mr. Brown is a horticulturist, better described as a physi- 
cian of trees. When he sees a tree drooping he examines it and 
finds out what the trouble is. He prescribes for a tree just as 
an ordinary physician would prescribe for a human being, and 
he has been almost invariably successful in saving their lives. 

Professor Brown has treated the trees in the puplic parks of 
St. Paul which were being slowly killed by worms. He found 
13 different kinds of worms, belonging to a family of 360 varie- 
ties. These worms get into the trees through the cracking of 
the bark by the alterntite thawing and freezing in the winter. 
The sap oozes into the opening and forms a jelly in which the 
beetles deposit their eggs. The eggs hatch, the grubs devour 
the sap and then explore the tree in search of more. The same 
result follows the improper trimming of trees, when the wound 
is left uncovered. 

Professor Brown has a method of treating trees thus afflicted 
which infallibly kills the insects and heals the wound which 
they have made. The results of his treatment are perceptible 
almost as soon as it has been given, and the patient soon shows 
its appreciation by displaying a bright green, healthy foliage. 
Another treatment is adopted with the insects which attack the 
leaves of a tree, and with equal success. Professor Brown has a 
method of feeding trees which suffer from lack of nourishment 
through being planted in a hard sidewalk. 

If proof is needed that Prof. Brown is not a mere theorist, it 
suffices to say that he has practiced as a horticulturist for fifteen 
years and during that time has never had a failure. Since his 
coming to Seattle he has treated the orchards of a number of 
leading citizens of Seattle and King county. — Seattle Post-Intelli- 
geneer, April 7, 1891. 







NO. 1 

Forest tree Tent Caterpillar, perfect Moth with egg cluster on limb 
as shov^n in cut No. 1. 




NO. 2 

Worm produced from the egg of the Forest Tree Tent Caterpillar 
as shown in cut No. 2. 




NO. 3. 

Caterpillars produced from the eggs of the Apple Tree Tent 
. Caterpillar, as shown on Tent in cut No. a 




NO 4. 

The perfect Codlin Moth and the woi'in produced from the ea 
of the Moth as it comes out of the apple. 




NO. 5 

Box Elder Bug. 




NO. 6 

Showing- the Perfect Cherrj' Tree Saw Fly and the Larvse 
produced from the Flj' on the leaf. 




NO. 7 

The Hop Aphis, with wiugs greatly enlarged, (perfect fly). 




NO. 8 

The Hop Aphis (perfect louse), without wings, as shown in cut No. 8. 




NO. 9 

The Plum Louse (or Aphis) as shown in cut No. 9. 




NO. 10 

Oyster Shell Scale (perfect fly and larvae with shell turned bottom 

side up, where the eg:gs are to be found concealed. 




NO 11 

Showing a twig badly infested with the Oyster Shell 
Scale (or bark louse ) 




NO. 12 

Showing perfect bug and offspring of the Flat-headed Apple Tree 

Borer, that works between the bark and wood of the 

apple ai:d other trees. 

Engravings hy J. T. Clague, Seattle 



Page 
A 

Author's Life.. 7 

A Recent Visit to Some of the Hop Fields of Washingtou 45 

A New Enemy of Washington Hops 48 

A Pest Exterminator in California 68 

Apple Maggot 96 

Apple Tree Borei- 88 

Arizona 141 

B 

Brown's Favorite Prescription 26 

Black Spot 39 

Bark Bound Trees 44 

Brown Apricot Scale 108 

British Columbia 142 

C 

Codlin Moth 83 

(Janker or Measuring Wc.rm 84 

Cabbage Moth 87 

Cabbage Aphis 87 

Cut Worms 94 

Cherry and Pear Tree Slug 95 

Clothes Moths 98 

Cherry Tree Aphis , 102 

Chicken Lice and Mites 103 

Cattle Lice 104 

Chaff Scale 112 

Chemist's Certificate 143 

California 141 

Cuts ; 165 to 172 

D 

Destruction of the Fruit Crop 51 

Death to Tree Pests 66 

Discoui'se on Injurious Insects 70 



174 INDEX. 

E 

Page 

Entomology 11 

Elm Tree Beetle 90 

F 

Fertilizers 20 

Fungus Diseases 44 

Fruit Tree Pests in Utah 57 

Fall Web Worm • 85 

Florida Red Scale 110 

Frosted Scale Ill 

G 

Grasshopper's 40 

Gooseberry and Currant Worm 96 

Green Aphis 98 

Grow Your Own Tobacco 121 

I 

Introductory 5 

Insect Pests in Seattle 53 

Idaho 139 

L 

Life and Habits of Ants 74 

Leaf Crumplers 91 

Leaf Spot Diseases of the Plum and Cherry Trees 105 

Lemon Scale 112 

No Black-hearted Trees in my Grandfather's Orchard 30 

No More Pests \ 61 

O 

Oyster Shell Scale 106 

Other Remedies 122 

Oregon ' 138 

P 

Planting an Orchard 13 

Peach Yellows 37 

Peach Tree Borer 89 

Potato Bugs 92 

Plum Curculio 97 

Peach Tree Aphis 101 

Plum Tree Aphis 102 

Plum Rot 104 



INDEX. 175 

Page 

Powdei'ly Mildew of the Cherry 105 

Phylixera 107 

Purple Scale 112 

Prof. Brown's Insecticides 117 

Prof. Brown's Favorite Prescription 26 

E 

Rose Beetle 90 

Rose Saw Fly 95 

Remedy for Mildew , 104 

Red Scale 113 

S 

Spraying 26 

Squash Bugs :i 91 

San Jose Scale 105 

State Boards of Horticulture 142 

T 

The Fruit of Boise Basin , 43 

The Insecticide 23 

Treatment of Old Trees 29 

Twig Blight 33 

Tomato Blight 36 

Trees Have the Grip 63 

The Hop Pest 71 

Tent Caterpillar 85 

Thrips 92 

The Plum Gouger 93 

The Hop Louse 103 

The Red Spider 109 

Formula 117 

The Great Devolopers 137 

Testimonials 143 

U 
Utah 140 

W 

What is Claimed For It 25 

Why Fruit Trees Die 59 

Works Like a Charm 68 

White Spotted Tussock Moth 86 

Wire Worms 91 

Woolly Aphis 99 

"VV^ashington ....,.,..,,.,... 137 














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